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Open research questions in Child Development and Digital Technology

503 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 3,793 Child Development and Digital Technology papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • Investigate the long-term effects of the parent coaching intervention, - Examine the impact of different types of screen content on preschoolers' development, - Develop and evaluate interventions to reduce screen time in preschoolers

    Problematic Use of Electronic Devices in Preschool Children: A Parent Coaching Program for the Prevention of Screen Addiction · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of effective interventions to prevent excessive screen exposure in young children. The need to address emerging digital dependence early in preschoolers. The importance of parental involvement in preventing screen addiction.

    Problematic Use of Electronic Devices in Preschool Children: A Parent Coaching Program for the Prevention of Screen Addiction · 2026 · DOI

  • The need for a locally feasible, culturally responsive delivery model. The limitations of relying solely on in-person, group-based delivery of parenting programs. The need for a scalable and sustainable parenting program.

    Building Impact Through Government Partnerships: the Naungan Kasih Positive Parenting Program in Malaysia · 2026 · DOI

  • The study faces the challenge of investigating the relationship between screen time and academic performance among Chinese adolescents. It also faces the challenge of identifying the mediating mechanisms of this relationship. Another challenge is the lack of research on Chinese students who face higher academic pressure.

    The relationship and mechanism of screen time and academic performance among adolescents: an empirical study based on CEPS · 2025 · DOI

  • There is a lack of research on Chinese students who face higher academic pressure. No studies have been conducted to systematically answer what exactly are the factors that mediate the relationship between screen time and academic performance.

    The relationship and mechanism of screen time and academic performance among adolescents: an empirical study based on CEPS · 2025 · DOI

  • The pathway underlying the association between screen time and socio-emotional development is unknown. There is a need to investigate the potential role of parent–child reading in mitigating the effects of screen time.

    Screen time, brain network development and socio-emotional competence in childhood: moderation of associations by parent–child reading · 2024 · DOI

  • However, critical tools such as tablets and internet connectivity were still lacking in both school types.

    Assessing digital literacy resources in Ghanaian preschools: Differences between public and private school types · 2026 · DOI

  • While such platforms provide accessible support, the influence of different media formats on parenting outcomes remains underexplored.

    The Association Between Media Use for Parenting Information (MUPI) and Parenting Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Among Parents of Children Aged 6–19 Years · 2026 · DOI

  • This study investigates the associations between parental KAP on screen exposure, home nurture environment and parent-child interaction quality in children aged 2-3 years, addressing a critical gap in understanding how digital media habits shape early developmental contexts.

    Associations of Parental KAP Regarding Children's Screen Exposure, Home Nurture Environment, Parent–Child Screen and Parent–Child Interaction in Children Aged 2–3 Years: A Structural Equation Modelling · 2026 · DOI

  • BACKGROUND: Early childhood development is profoundly influenced by parent-child interaction yet the impact of parental knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) regarding screen exposure and home environment on these dynamics remains underexplored.

    Associations of Parental KAP Regarding Children's Screen Exposure, Home Nurture Environment, Parent–Child Screen and Parent–Child Interaction in Children Aged 2–3 Years: A Structural Equation Modelling · 2026 · DOI

  • However, few studies have investigated the characteristics of parents’ visual exploration.

    Visual Attention and Preferences of Parents in Selecting Picture Books for Young Children: An Eye-Tracking Study · 2026 · DOI

  • We found some evidence for differences in media parenting profiles by country of residence, as well as limited evidence of differences in adolescent well-being by media parenting profiles, country of residence, or an interaction between profiles and country of residence.

    There is more than one way to engage in effective media parenting: An analysis of parenting with media in four world regions and associations with adolescent well-being · 2025 · DOI

  • This study aims to fill the gap in understanding the complex effects of social media use among preadolescents, providing insights into critical factors influencing their body satisfaction and identity in the era of digital technology.

    Imagining Another Self: The Use of Social Media Among Preadolescents and Its Body-Related Consequences. An Exploratory Study · 2025 · DOI

  • However, the specific patterns of these associations, especially how different types of screen exposure relate to factors such as sleep and parent-child interaction, remain underexplored in non-Western and developing contexts.

    Screen Exposure and Early Childhood Development: Survey Findings From the Wuhan Birth Cohort Studies · 2025 · DOI

  • This work highlights that while there is much recent activity across sectors occurring in Canada, policy is lacking, and efforts lack coordination, cross-sectoral collaboration, and synergy, likely resulting in suboptimal impact.

    Screen Use and Child and Adolescent Health in Canada: Triangulation of Evidence Assessing the State of the Effort · 2025 · DOI

  • While individual studies have examined various factors influencing children's screen use across the early years, few studies have explored multiple ecological influences simultaneously.

    Longitudinal associations between child, parenting, home and neighbourhood factors and children’s screen time through 4 to 7 years of age · 2025 · DOI

  • However, the joint and reciprocal relationships between child screen use and nature exposure have not been investigated in the relational family context.

    Nuances of balance; parental perspectives around screen use and nature exposure in middle childhood · 2025 · DOI

  • Background: Digital technology is increasingly being used in early childhood education; however, there is a significant gap in understanding how these technologies are practiced in health and safety routines.

    Exploring Technology Integration in Health and Safety Routines in a Shanghai Kindergarten · 2025 · DOI

  • Future research should focus on scalable, inclusive solutions and enhanced data governance to maximize the benefits of those tools in diverse educational settings.

    Exploring Technology Integration in Health and Safety Routines in a Shanghai Kindergarten · 2025 · DOI

  • TV program contents may have a different effect on children with reading difficulties (RDs) because of executive dysfunctions, which have not been studied yet.

    Short-term impacts of TV viewing on executive functions in children with reading difficulties: an eye tracking study · 2025 · DOI

  • Unfortunately, most of the current studies on digital inequality focus on the population of adults or adolescents; whether and how digital inequality emerges in early life remains heavily understudied.

    Emerging digital inequality in early life: Parenting and differential usage of digital devices among urban preschoolers in China · 2024 · DOI

  • While it is often argued that continuous exposure to social feedback is specifically challenging for the hypersensitive developing brain, empirical evidence is lacking.

    Youths’ sensitivity to social media feedback: A computational account · 2024 · DOI

  • BACKGROUND: Concerns about adolescent screen use are often expressed but poorly understood, particularly in terms of how parents are supposed to respond in ways that balance safety, care and developing independence and autonomy.

    ‘I tried to take my phone off my daughter, and i got hit in the face’: a qualitative study of parents’ challenges with adolescents’ screen use and a toolbox of their tips · 2024 · DOI

  • However, there is limited knowledge regarding the associations between physical activity, screen time, and mental health problems (MHP) in preschoolers.

    Association between screen time and physical activity on mental health among preschoolers: a cross-sectional study from Southwest China · 2024 · DOI

  • Little is known about the different patterns of communication between migrant parents and LBC and associated communication quality and mental health outcomes.

    Associations of latent patterns of parent‒child communication with communication quality and mental health outcomes among Chinese left-behind children · 2024 · DOI

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503 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 3,793 Child Development and Digital Technology papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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