Understanding 'good enough' parenting and toddlers' tech use

“We have a universal offer of antenatal support for parents, which is great [...] but I certainly found with my two children that being pregnant was the easiest bit – I found parenting much more difficult. Why don’t we have universal support for parents? We are incredibly judgemental. When was the last time anybody ever said to a parent ‘You’re doing a really good job’?”

Research tells us that authoritative and consistent at-home parenting can have a real impact on children’s learning and educational outcomes. At times, however, there can be a prevailing culture where parents lack both support and actionable information around at-home parental engagement. Beyond this, parents may also be unfairly labelled or criticised by educators due to their parenting styles.

The incorrect notion that very young children don’t use digital technology (and the mythologising of a ‘tech-free past’) can likewise be an obstacle to understanding not just the nature of their tech use, but its possible at-home benefit.

We're joined by Professor Janet Goodall, researcher and Professor of Education at Swansea University’s Department of Education and Childhood Studies, to discuss parental engagement, family learning outcomes, and her recent research on early years media literacy and toddler digital tech habits.

You can catch up on every episode of the Tech Shock podcast here.