Impact of Electronic Media on Socio-Emotional Development of Preschool Children: Parents’ Perceptions

This study investigated the parental perceptions of the effects of electronic media on the socioemotional development of preschool children in the Kalutara District, Sri Lanka. It explores the positive and negative impacts of electronic media exposure, considering factors such as accessibility, type of programme/activity and duration of use. 377 parents were randomly selected from preschool children attending preschools in the Kalutara District. The sample was stratified to include urban and rural settings to ensure representation across different socio-economic backgrounds. A survey method was chosen, and data were collected from a piloted and validated structured questionnaire with a 5-point Likert scale, which included information on types of electronic media accessed by children, duration of use and programme preference. Descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution and graphic presentations were used to summarize media usage patterns and socio-emotional development indicators. The impact of electronic media on socio-emotional development indicated both positive and negative relationships. The study found that while most parents hold a positive attitude toward electronic media, a majority were aware that electronic media lead to aggressive behaviour, prevent children from forming healthy relationships with adults and peers, promote unhealthy competition among children, become addicted to electronic media and negatively affects the socio-emotional development of children. Based on the findings, guidelines were developed to help parents model healthy media habits, while recommendations were made for policymakers to offer training and resources to support parents in managing screen time, selecting appropriate content and engaging in co-viewing.