An exploration of the post-pandemic profiles and predictors of children’s digital literacy and multimodal practices in Canada

Abstract

ABSTRACT With children’s digital technology usage surging in post-pandemic Canada, it is imperative to understand children’s digital literacy and multimodal practices. This study investigated potential predictors of children’s digital literacy and multimodal practices at home, and the latent profiles of digital families. A sample of 413 parents of children aged 0–8 was recruited online and from daycare centres in Central Ontario to examine children’s home digital environments, digital literacy, and multimodal practices. The findings indicated that (1) child age, home digital resources, and parent’s beliefs regarding child digital technology use predicted increased digital literacy and multimodal practices. (2) Three profiles of digital families were identified: low-digital families (36.9%), moderate-digital families (51.2%), and high-digital families (11.9%). Our research sheds light on the digital landscape of Canadian families with young children and suggests financial status may not be the primary factor in identifying children who can benefit from initiatives supporting digital literacy.