Parental Influence on Usage of Electronic Gadgets and Students' Grades: Primary Students' Perspective

This study intended to find out the children's usage of gadgets and the parents' role regarding their usage and finally its influence on grades. This cross-sectional study was conducted using quantitative method. A total of 340 students of class four were selected by a random sampling method from four schools. Data collection was done by face-to-face interview and the study tool was structured by pretested questionnaire. The study took place at Dhanmondi Govt. Boys' High School, Kamrunnessa Govt. Girls School, Dhanmondi, Bangladesh International School and College (BISC), Mohakhali and SOS Hermann Gmeiner College, Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Data collection was carried out from May 2019 to October 2019. Then the analysis of data and results were prepared in November and December 2019. Among 340 respondents of this study, a maximum (78.2%) of students watch TV, 55.9% of them play with mobile and a half (50%) of the students use tablet daily. Maximum (91.8%) parents monitor the use and time of gadgets. About 53.8% of parents use gadgets as a parenting tool. The majority of parents have a positive opinion of electronic gadgets on their children's reading (52.9% somewhat positive and 24.7% very positive) and writing (56.8% somewhat positive and 20.3% very positive) skills. The parents had negative opinion regarding attention spans to studies (33.8% somewhat negative), physical activity (38.2% somewhat negative and 16.5% parents are very negative) and sleep (38.8% are somewhat negative and 17.9% are very negative). Children are the future generation of our country. It is the duty of the parents as well as the country to establish a balanced use of this modern invention in our children's life.