Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers

This chapter discusses how media preferences evolve from birth through early childhood. The focus is on two age groups, infants and young toddlers (up to 2 years old) and older toddlers and preschoolers (2–5 years). For both age groups, it describes a number of specific developmental characteristics and predicts how they influence these young children's media preferences. At what age do infants begin to take an interest in media, and why at that age? Why are toddlers so fascinated by smartphones and tablets? Should very young children even be using media? What is the “pink frilly dress” phenomenon and how does it influence media preferences? And finally, why exactly is development such a strong predictor of media preference?

Age groups · Developmental psychology · Early childhood · Preference · Sociology · Child Development and Digital Technology · Demography · Digital Games and Media · Mathematics · Psychology