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Young Children’s Digital Literacy Practices with Caregivers in the Home Environment: Voices of Chinese Parents and Grandparents

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  • Yongli Wang

    (. Research Division Center for Information Management in Ministry of Education, Beijing 100816, China)

  • Yiran Zhao

    (. Academy of Future Education, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215000, China)

  • Jinjin Lu

    (. Academy of Future Education, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215000, China)

  • Yuan Gao

    (. Academy of Future Education, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215000, China)

Abstract

The development of children’s digital literacy is essential in the 21st century. Digital technologies have been adopted by both parents and grandparents to enhance children’s quality of education, in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (e.g., SDGs 4 and 17). Many children have been provided with all types of digital tools and e-devices from birth, which puts their caregivers in a challenging position. In that context, investigating the attitudes, beliefs, communication, and practices of caregivers when interacting with young children while utilizing digital technologies is crucial for comprehending the disparity in digital literacy between parents and grandparents. In this study, we adopted a mixed research design to examine Chinese intergenerational caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic and different types of caregivers’ beliefs, practices, and communication with children through various digital tools in the home environment. A caregiver-reported survey was conducted to investigate the primary caregivers’ beliefs, practices, and communication using digital media tools with children at home. Intergenerational interviews with 18 families further identified the different methods of caregiving between parents and grandparents. Mixed attitudes were found concerning popular technologies commonly used at home and children’s digital literacy practices, and we heard intergenerational concerns about children’s use of digital technologies. This study shows that Chinese fathers are generally more supportive of digital practices at home, while mothers are more restrictive of their children’s use of digital technology tools. Grandparenting may be overwhelming for Chinese seniors in the 21st century.

Suggested Citation

  • Yongli Wang & Yiran Zhao & Jinjin Lu & Yuan Gao, 2024. "Young Children’s Digital Literacy Practices with Caregivers in the Home Environment: Voices of Chinese Parents and Grandparents," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-18, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:8:p:3300-:d:1376170
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xu, Hongwei, 2019. "Physical and mental health of Chinese grandparents caring for grandchildren and great-grandparents," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 229(C), pages 106-116.
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