РОДИТЕЛСКИ ПРАКТИКИ И МОТИВИ ЗА УПОТРЕБА НА ДИГИТАЛНИ УСТРОЙСТВА ПРИ ДЕЦА В РАННА ВЪЗРАСТ: КАЧЕСТВЕН КОНТЕНТ АНАЛИЗ
PARENTAL PRACTICES AND MOTIVES FOR THE USE OF DIGITAL DEVICES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD: A QUALITATIVE CONTENT ANALYSIS

Summary/Abstract: This study explores how parents use digital devices in the everyday lives of children aged 3–4 years, as well as the functions these devices serve within the family context. The theoretical framework is based on Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model of development (Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 2006) and Rogoff’s cultural-historical perspective (Rogoff, 2003), both emphasizing the reciprocal influence between the child, the family, and the sociocultural environment. The empirical part employs a qualitative content analysis of 35 parental statements collected through a structured anamnesis questionnaire. The findings reveal that digital devices are most often used during meals and as a means of parental relief or behavioral regulation, while genuinely shared and interactive media use is rare. Screen exposure thus appears as a compensatory mechanism for the lack of time, energy, or emotional availability on the part of adults. The results confirm that in early childhood, digital exposure functions not merely as a technological phenomenon but as a socio-psychological practice that may reduce opportunities for live communication and linguistic stimulation. The study highlights the need for parental presence and conscious mediation during children’s screen use, as well as for consultative programs supporting communicative development in the digital environment.

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