Smart Device Experience at Home, Vocabulary and Literacy Skills among Korean Children

Abstract

This study examined how 5-year old children use smart devices at home and how their use of smart devices at home is related to children's vocabulary and reading skills. Eighty children were tested with the tasks of vocabulary and reading skills and their mothers replied to home questionnaires regarding children's use of smart device at home. Results showed that, first, 77.2% of children used smart device at home. Second, the often use of communication applications by children was related to vocabulary skill of children, and vocabulary was related to word reading. Results of mediation analysis showed that the use of communication applications contributed to word reading by the mediation of vocabulary skill.