Do parents prefer digital play? Examination of parental preferences and beliefs in four nations

Abstract

Recently play environments and materials have changed with digital materials becoming increasingly available for young children. Parents’ preferences about the importance and appropriateness of digital play may influence the quality and the quantity of digital play opportunities children receive at home. The purpose of this research is to examine parents’ preferences and beliefs about their children’s digital play across four countries: USA, Turkey, China and South Korea. Participants of this mixed method research study were 500 parents who had a child aged 4–6 years old attending pre-schools or kindergarten in four countries. The data collected through the Parent Play Preferences Questionnaire (PPPQ) and semi-structured interviews with parents. The results revealed that digital play was the least preferred play across the four countries. Parents with college and above degree preferred digital play less than did parents with less than college education. Results are discussed in relation to the literature, with implications explored.