Effect of implementing parental strategies on preventing digital overdependence among their preschool children

Background: Overuse of digital devices is a practice known as "digital overdependence," whichcan have a number of adverse implications on children's socialization, physical and mentalwellbeing, sleep quality, and psychological dependency. Additionally, it negatively impactspreschoolers' general development. Aim: the current study aimed to determine the effect ofimplementing parental strategies on preventing digital overdependence among their preschoolchildren. . Research design: A quazi experimental design was used to fulfill its aim. Subjects: 218participant parents divided equally to 109 for rural and 109 for urban nurseries who were registeredat the selected nurseries at the time of the study. Tool of data collection: Five questionnaires wereused tool (1) Sociodemographic criteria, (2) Over-dependence criteria of digital devices (3)Problematic technology use scale for young Children (HFS-P) (4) The proposed causes of digitaloverdependence (5) The proposed preventive strategies of overdependence. Results: the currentstudy showed that, 85.8% of total sample aged 5 years old, 57.3 % of participant mothers aged 20:< 30 years old. About 41.7% of the total sample (21.1 % and 20.6 % of those at urban and ruralareas respectively) spent 3:4 hours per day on the internet, (85.8%) of the participant pre-schoolchildren had headache, (76.6%) had blurred vision and (64%) had eye redness. Conclusion: 58.8% of the total sample divided into 26.2 % and 32.6 % of urban and rural residence aged 5 yearsold. There was a statistically significant relation between pre-school level of internet addiction andthe problematic technology use domains except effect on development. Indeed, 3.55±.20964 ofparticipant preschool children mean scores as reported by their parents prefer digital life to reallife, which decreased to 2.44±.23973 after implementing the preventive strategies.Recommendations: Encourage children to read books or tales in the library, play in groups, andparticipate in sports in the sports clubs to help them improve their mental and physical skills.