Smart Toddlers
The smartphone has become an essential part of our daily lives. But up to now, little is known about how smartphone use affects the parent-child relationship in early childhood. The Smart Toddlers research study aims to generate new findings on this question.
Research study Smart Toddlers
We are interested in the influence of parental smartphone use on parent-child interaction, in mobile device use by the child and in various aspects of child development. Data will be collected by online questionnaire at three time points: when the child is 14 months, 20 months, and 3 years old. Additionally, we will conduct interviews with some parents: This will allow more in-depth exploration of parents’ perspectives on their smartphone use and possible influences on the parent-child relationship. Additionally, parent-child interactions will be video-recorded, as we would like to learn more about children’s reactions to smartphone use.
Research study aims
Up to now, young parents have not really had outside guidance on the question of how the use of digital media can affect their relationships with their children. To be able to provide parents of young children with evidence-based advice on using smartphones, we need detailed research findings on smartphone use and its possible effect on parent-child interactions in early childhood. The Smart Toddlers study will generate such knowledge. This will help us to make research-based recommendations regarding smartphone use in early childhood.
Two departments – One research goal
This study is being conducted in cooperation by researchers at the ZHAW School of Applied Psychology and the ZHAW School of Health Sciences under the Swiss National Science Foundation research initiative “Digital Lives.”
The research team in the Clinical Psychology and Health Psychology section at the ZHAW School of Applied Psychology conducts research with a focus on psychotherapy, counseling, and diagnostics with adults and children as well as infant research. The research unit at the Institute of Midwifery of the ZHAW School of Health Sciences conducts research with a focus on sustainable midwifery to promote the health of women, their children, and their families.
Project Leader
- Prof. Dr. Agnes von Wyl, Section for Clinical Psychology and Health Psychology, ZHAW School of Applied Psychology
- Dr. Michael Gemperle, Institute of Midwifery, ZHAW School of Health Sciences
Project Team
- Dr. Katrin Braune-Krickau, Meret Isabelle Carmen Hug, Larissa Schneebeli, Section for Clinical Psychology and Health Psychology, ZHAW School of Applied Psychology
- Anouk Joliat, Institute of Midwifery, ZHAW School of Health Sciences
Publications
- Babys im Handystress? (PDF 483,6 KB) (Mamablog Tages-Anzeiger 4/2019)
- Der Blick zum Säugling – gestört durch Smartphones? (PDF 191,4 KB) (Obstetrica 11/2018)
- Eltern am Bildschirm (PDF 430,7 KB) (Wir Eltern 5/2019)
- Junge Eltern und das Smartphone (PDF 209,2 KB) (Suchtprävention laut & leise 3/2021)
- Schädlich für Beziehungsaufbau oder wichtiger Draht zur Aussenwelt? (PDF 186,3 KB) (Obstetrica 7-8/2020)
- Selfie statt Schaukel (PDF 167,9 KB) (Schweizer Monat 3/2020)
- Smartphones in the nursery: Parental smartphone use and responsiveness (PDF 305,0 KB) (Infant Mental Health Journal 2021)
- Smartphones können die frühe Eltern-Kind-Interaktion stören (PDF 216,9 KB) (Pädiatrie 3/2021)
You can also find our publications and other articles on Facebook: Facebook group "Smart Toddlers"