Work

Observing preschoolers' engagement with a digital book library: insights from children of diverse backgrounds in Türkiye

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study investigates how preschool-aged children in Türkiye independently engage with digital books from a free, native-language digital library, focusing on socio-economic differences. Eighteen children participated in 70 video-recorded sessions over four weeks. The study explored (1) how many digital books children read, (2) their interaction with interactive features, and (3) the quality of their engagement. Children from middle socio-economic backgrounds completed significantly more books and demonstrated higher-quality engagement than their peers from low-SES backgrounds. While both groups used interactive features at similar rates, children from low-SES backgrounds activated more hotspots, often before narration began, indicating a preference for exploratory interaction over narrative focus. While access to digital books is essential, design and guidance must address differences in children's prior literacy experiences to promote meaningful engagement.

Source: European Early Childhood Education Research Journal

DOI: 10.1080/1350293x.2025.2529362

Author: Burcu Sarı Uğurlu

Institution: Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi

Language: English

Topic: Child Development and Digital Technology

Subfield: Education

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Quality education

Open Access status: green

Funder: Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi