Is the digitalization of play technological mutation or digital evolution?

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study sought an answer to the question whether the digitalization of play is technological mutation or digital evolution. To this end, 14 studies published over the last five years were reviewed and discussed under four themes, namely digital technology and children, parents’, and teachers’ perceptions of digital technology, screen effects, and digital-based learning. The review showed that digital technologies had entered children’s daily lives and digital applications had become an important part of early childhood education programmes. Although digital technologies offer positive contributions to children’s learning and improve some skills (creativity, problem-solving, and even motor development), it seems as a potential danger to reduce children’s play process only to the use of digital games. If this happens, the evolutionary and genetic origin of play, which has an older history than humanity, will be seriously devastated.