RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTAL SCREEN TIME INTENSITY AND SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN AGED 4–5 YEARS

Abstract

Parents have a crucial role in the family environment as providers of stimulation and verbal interaction which are needed to support the ability of children's speech and language. High intensity of gadget use in parents may interfere with the quality of the interaction so that it becomes a risk to the development of children's speech and language. The purpose of this research was to analyze the intensity of parents’ gadget use with the speech and language development of children aged 4–5 years at TK Al-Huda Kota Kediri. This research was included in correlational research with a cross- sectional design, and used a total sample of 42 parents and children aged 4–5 years. Data analysis used Spearman rank statistical test. Most of the parents had gadget use intensity in moderate category (76.19%), and the children were in speech and language development according to expectation (76.2%). The result of data analysis showed a significant correlation between the intensity of parents in using gadget and the development of children's speech and language (p= 0.000), with moderate negative correlation coefficient (r = -0.608). It means that the higher the intensity of gadget use in parents, the higher the risk of children experiencing delay in speech and language development. Parents’ gadget use in moderate category can build good quality of interaction so that speech and language development can grow according to expectation. It is expected that parents reduce the duration and frequency in using gadget, especially when interacting with the child, so that the child’s development remains optimal according to their age stage.