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Parent Perceptions of Mobile Device Use Among Preschool-Aged Children in Rural Head Start Centers
Morgan McCloskey1, Susan L Johnson2, Cristen Benz1
1Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
Objective:
To describe child use and parents' beliefs and comfort with young children's use of mobile devices in low-income, rural communities.
Methods:
This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study. The survey, which consisted of 18 multiple-part questions, was distributed to families at 5 Head Start/preschool centers in Colorado.
Results:
In total, 192 surveys were returned (28.5% response rate). Most children (92%) used a smartphone or tablet at some frequency and most parents (90%) had downloaded apps specifically for their child. Education and ethnicity were related to parents' technology beliefs. Parent comfort with technology was positively associated with greater child use of technology (P < .001).
Conclusions And Implications:
Mobile device use was relatively high in this sample. Mobile devices appear to be a feasible platform to offer nutrition and physical activity education for this audience. Ensuring parent comfort with technology and apps will be important.