A new study at Université Sainte-Anne will look to better understand how screen time contributes to the development of young children.
Residents of Digby and Yarmouth counties, as well as in Cape Breton and Halifax are eligible to participate in the study.
A press release notes that participation will take less than an hour and a half, and can be done at home.
Caroline Fitzpatrick, Assistant Professor in the Social Sciences Department at Université Sainte-Anne, says they are seeking a very specific demographic for the study.
“Children that around around three years old,” she explained. “So they can be a bit younger than three years old because we’ll be collecting over a few months, so children turning three could be eligible. “And children up until the age of about four and-a-half could be eligible as well for the study. So between three and four and-a-half is our target age range.”
She notes that they’ll likely be collecting data right into April or a little later, and they will offer participating families a small honorarium in the form of a gift card.
Fitzpatrick notes that there’s a lack of research surrounding screen time and youngsters.
“It’s really, really important for us to also take this information and relate it back to parents, relate it back to professionals in a way that anybody with an interest in early childhood will be able to hopefully use this information to make better decisions about how to use screens with young children.”
You can get more information, including how to participate, on the project facebook page or by reaching out via email.
you can also contact:
Rachelle Wakeham Lewis
Research Coordinator
902-769-2114, poste 7146
