Screen time of older preschool children in Russia in 2023–2024

Context and relevance. Digital devices have become an integral part of preschoolers' lives, and their use has a complex impact on child development. This makes a comprehensive analysis of screen time in this age group particularly important. Objective. To analyze the characteristics of screen time among children aged 5–7 years from different regions of Russia in 2023 and 2024. Methods and materials. Data on screen time were collected by interviewing mothers of 5‑ to 7‑year‑olds from major Russian cities in 2023 and 2024. In 2023, the sample consisted of mothers (M = 37,4, SD = 4,72) of 1152 children; in 2024, mothers (M = 36,2, SD = 5,45) of 1019 children. Results. It was found that children's passive screen time was approximately twice as high as their active screen time: 10–11 hours per week and 4–5 hours per week, respectively. Boys had both passive and active screen time 5–10 minutes higher than girls did. Children in preparatory kindergarten groups (aged 6–7 years) had higher screen time than children in senior kindergarten groups (aged 5–6 years): passive screen time was approximately 6 minutes higher, and active screen time was approximately 13 minutes higher. On weekends, screen time was approximately twice as high as on weekdays: about 3–3,5 hours and about 1,75–2 hours, respectively. Conclusions. The revealed trends point to the increasing role of digital content in organizing leisure activities for preschool children, especially on weekends. The results also highlight the importance of parents following recommended screen time limits for preschoolers.

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