Parental Voices on Screen Time Guidelines in Early Childhood

Abstract

This article critically engages with the concept of screen time. We explore the screen time recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and their application in the Swedish context. We also investigate the experiences and opinions on the recommendations and advice on screen time and screen media use in early childhood among parents of young children (0–3 yrs.) in Sweden. The study draws from qualitative semi-structured interviews during multiple home visits from a diverse sample of 16 families. Findings are discussed through the prism of the ‘moral economy’ of the household and the ‘social imaginaries’ underpinning this. We have identified two types of approaches to guidelines on screen time among parents, and based on our findings we recommend organizations in Sweden and beyond, to rethink and revise the current guidelines, including the WHO recommendations.

Keywords

• screen time
• early childhood
• digital parenting
• Sweden
• WHO