Anniely Rodrigues Soares, Iolanda Carlli da Silva Bezerra, Valquíria Francisca de Moura, Rafaella Karolina Bezerra Pedrosa, Gabriela Lisieux Lima Gomes, Altamira Pereira da Silva Reichert
children use screens beyond the recommended time, with varied content and often with little supervision, which can expose them to inappropriate content.
OBJECTIVES: to understand caregivers' perceptions of screen use by children from different strata of social vulnerability.
METHODS: a qualitative study was conducted with caregivers of preschool children in daycare centers in a municipality in northeastern Brazil between October 2023 and June 2024. The focus group technique and inductive thematic analysis were used, based on the dimensions of digital screen use, namely time, content, nature, and context.
RESULTS: children use screens beyond the recommended time, with varied content and often with little supervision, which can expose them to inappropriate content.
FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: it is essential to guide caregivers on the impacts of screen use on child development and the importance of adequate monitoring.