The formation of new media preferences among pre-school children in the context of peer culture and home interaction: A pedagogical perspective

Abstract

This study examines connections between two main growth environments - home and pre-school - in the formation of young children's new media preferences in the context of the ecological techno-microsystem and peer culture. The study assembles the results of three focus group based sub-studies with pre-school teachers (N=24), parents (N=20) and children between the ages of 5 and 7 (N=61). Samples were formed in pre-school childcare institutions, which in Estonia is for children aged 1,5 to 7. Research shows that other members of the pre-school group influence children's preferences in their use of new media. Parents consider the shaping of their children's preferences to be less connected to the children's relations with their peers. Teachers, on the other hand, ascribe the children's preferences to different aspects of the influence that their peers, siblings and parents can have on them. © 2008 Cyberpsychology.