Toddlers crave control of technology and can do much more with touch devices now, according to a new Childwise report.

The UK research agency surveys parents in the region annually to assess changes in media behavior and mobile device usage of kids ages zero to four. with devices. Its most recent study, which canvassed 1,029 parents last August and September, shows that toddlers are finding it increasingly easy to navigate touch screens—42% are able to independently open apps they want to use (up from 34% in 2021); 28% are able to navigate within those apps (25% in 2021); and 42% have mastered basic functionality like turning the volume up and down (26% in 2021). 

Interestingly, 13% of parents surveyed said their toddlers are able to record videos, 34% can use take pictures, and 32% can draw. Three in 10 can turn a device on or off by themselves, and 27% can unlock the device if it has a passcode.

Year over year from 2021 to 2022, the top activities toddlers like to engage in on touch-screen devices are: videos (73% vs. 63%), games (56% vs. 52%), educational content (41% vs. 35%) and drawing/coloring (34% vs. 36%).

Tablets are still the main device used by preschoolers at 65%, followed by cell phones (45%) and laptops (20%). And the time they spend on these devices collectively has increased to more than 10 hours per week, up from 8.8 hours in 2021.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash