The Stirling Institute of Education

Introduction

Young Children Learning with Toys and Technology at Home is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).The purpose of the project is to investigate the role of technology in the everyday lives of young children and their families. We are identifying ways in which three- and four-year-old children perceive, acquire and develop their understanding of technology by investigating their play experiences at home. The study will produce a family-centred account of children's learning with a range of domestic, leisure and work technologies, including technological toys.

The three-year study is based in the School of Education at the University of Stirling.  Research commenced in February 2008 and will be completed in 2011

Young Children Learning with Toys and Technology builds on previous research projects: CACHET, research into communication and interactions between children and 'smart' toys, Interplay, a study of play, learning and ICT in nurseries, and Entering e-Society: Young children's development of e-literacy, which addressed children's use of digital connectivity in the home. Together, these projects enable us to create a unique picture of children's encounters with technology in the home and nursery, the two most important arenas in their lives.   

We have summarised some of the findings from this project. The research briefing, dated April 2012, is available to download here. More publications are available from the link in the column on the right.