Exploring modalities and functions of social interaction initiated by toddlers in the U.S. during touchscreen play

Abstract

ABSTRACT As technology becomes ubiquitous in the homes of many families, children learn to incorporate touchscreen devices into their everyday activities. The present study explored young children’s role in shaping their gaming experience to maintain social interactivity. Twenty-nine children at 2.5 years old in the U.S. played a non-educational game on a touchscreen in the presence of a researcher. We examined the temporal distribution and functions of toddlers’ active initiation of verbal and nonverbal social interactions. The results indicated modality differences. The toddlers tended to initiate verbal interactions in the middle segment of gaming and nonverbal interactions at the beginning. Moreover, toddlers who initiated a greater proportion of verbal (as opposed to nonverbal) interactions tended to amass more social interactions overall. Finally, the child-initiated interactions served functions of sharing success, seeking assistance, requesting a change, and inviting others to participate. Together, these findings provide insight into the social aspects of touchscreen gaming as toddlers navigate this new form of play.