ABSTRACT
Digital media and technology are part of young children’s learning landscape. Research shows that children from birth to age 8 spend an average of 3 hours a day engaging with various forms of media, including television, computers, mobile devices, and gaming consoles. Surprising, perhaps, is the finding that children younger than age 2 spend twice as much time watching television and videos as they do reading books or being read to (Rideout, 2013). With the flood of digital products to entice young children, parents are seeking advice on where to find the best resources to boost their children’s learning. They are turning to family, libraries, schools, peer networks, and, especially, early childhood providers for this guidance. Early childhood providers today are taking new roles as mediators between new technologies and families. Many are already using digital media not only to direct families in children’s use of apps, e-books, and the like but also to enhance parenting skills, homeschool communication, and family health and well-being.
