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Differences between preschool children using tablets and non-tablets in visual perception and fine motor skills
Ling-Yi Lin1,2
1Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan.
Hong Kong Journal of Occupational Therapy : HKJOT
|February 4, 2020
Summary
Children not using tablets showed better visual perception and fine motor skills. The link between these skills differed between tablet and non-tablet users, suggesting a need for tailored occupational therapy interventions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Occupational Therapy
- Developmental Psychology
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Numerous touch-screen applications exist to enhance early childhood visual perceptual and fine motor skills.
- The proliferation of tablets in early education necessitates understanding their impact on child development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare visual perception and fine motor skills in preschool children who use tablets versus those who do not.
- To examine the relationship between visual perception and fine motor skills within each group.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving two groups of 36 typically developing preschool children.
- One group used tablets, while the control group did not.
Main Results:
- Non-tablet users significantly outperformed tablet users across multiple visual perception subtests (discrimination, memory, spatial relationships, form constancy, figure-ground) and fine motor subtests (precision, integration, dexterity).
- The association between visual perception and fine motor skills varied distinctly between the tablet and non-tablet groups.
Conclusions:
- Significant differences exist in visual perception and fine motor skills between children who use tablets and those who do not.
- The distinct patterns of association highlight the importance for occupational therapists to consider the underlying developmental mechanisms when assessing children's skill acquisition.
