Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 4, 2026
11:29
Measuring the Functional Abilities of Children Aged 3-6 Years Old with Observational Methods and Computer Tools
Published on: June 20, 2020
9.2K
Digital Devices Use and Fine Motor Skills in Children between 3-6 Years
Francesca Felicia Operto1, Andrea Viggiano1, Antonio Perfetto1
1Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy.
Children (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 28, 2023
Summary
This study found no significant link between daily digital device use and fine motor skills in young children. However, younger children and those with working parents started using devices earlier and for longer durations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Developmental Psychology
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Investigating the impact of digital device usage on early childhood development is crucial.
- Understanding the relationship between screen time and fine motor skill development is an ongoing area of research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between digital device use and fine motor skills in children aged 3-6 years.
- To explore how socio-demographic factors influence digital device engagement in early childhood.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 185 children (3-6 years) participated.
- Parental questionnaires assessed digital device habits; fine motor skills were evaluated using the APCM-2 test.
- Spearman correlation analysis was employed to determine relationships between variables.
Main Results:
- Children averaged 3.08 hours/day on digital devices, with no significant correlation found between usage time and fine motor skills (p=0.640).
- Younger children initiated digital device use earlier (p<0.001) and spent more time on them (p=0.012).
- Children of working parents showed earlier digital device engagement (p=0.023) and increased usage time (p=0.028).
Conclusions:
- Current data suggest monitoring digital tool use, particularly in the early years of life.
- Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the complex interplay between digital device exposure and child development.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Language Development
1.1K
Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
1.1K
01:29Three Developmental Domains
1.6K
Human development is typically examined across three main domains: physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional. These domains represent the significant areas of change and continuity throughout the lifespan, from infancy to late adulthood.
Physical Development
Physical processes, also known as maturation, encompass the biological changes that occur across an individual's life. These changes begin with genetic inheritance and continue through various stages, including growth in height and weight,...
Physical Development
Physical processes, also known as maturation, encompass the biological changes that occur across an individual's life. These changes begin with genetic inheritance and continue through various stages, including growth in height and weight,...
1.6K