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Computer use and letter knowledge in pre-school children: a population-based study.

Anne Castles¹, Gregor M T McLean, Edith Bavin

¹Department of Cognitive Science, ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. anne.castles@mq.edu.au

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health

|February 27, 2013

Summary

Preschoolers with more home computer use showed better letter knowledge. This positive association between computer use and early literacy skills remained significant after accounting for other factors.

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Area of Science:

Child Development
Educational Psychology
Media Studies

Background:

Early literacy development is crucial for academic success.
Home environment and technology access are increasingly recognized as influential factors.
Understanding the role of digital tools in early learning is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the relationship between general home computer use and letter knowledge in preschool-aged children.
To determine if computer use is independently associated with early literacy skills.

Main Methods:

Utilized data from the Early Language in Victoria Study, a cohort of 1539 four-year-old children.
Assessed letter knowledge, non-verbal intelligence, oral language, articulation, and phonological awareness.
Collected data on home literacy environment and computer usage via parent questionnaires.

Main Results:

A significant positive correlation was observed between the amount of time children spent using computers at home and their letter knowledge.
This association persisted even after controlling for cognitive factors (intelligence, language, phonological awareness) and environmental factors (home literacy environment).

Conclusions:

Increased computer use in preschool years is positively associated with emerging literacy development, specifically letter knowledge.
Further research is warranted to elucidate the specific mechanisms underlying this association and the nature of the computer use that benefits literacy.