https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2070-2635
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ABSTRACT
Parents’ active participation in children’s activities can enhance communication and interaction in the family context, contributing to a positive family climate and healthy child development. This study examined Chinese parent–child joint leisure and media activities from February to May 2022 when COVID-19 restrictions were in place. A total of 1716 parents, forming a convenience sample, were surveyed to determine the frequency of parental participation in three types of joint activities: media, outdoor and artistic. Overall, the parents participated in joint activities once or twice weekly. The frequency of parental participation in joint activities is positively correlated with a positive family climate, indicating the importance of parents’ participation and involvement in joint activities for developing a strong family relationship. Parents’ ow’n text-based media is also positively associated with their frequency of participation in joint activity. Finally, significant differences among various regions in China suggest the influence of different lockdown policies.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Chuanmei Dong
Chuanmei Dong is interested in the use of digital technologies in early childhood education. Many of her publications are about educators' and parents' beliefs about young children's digital use and their pedagogical practices, and mediation approaches.
Thorsten Naab
Thorsten Naab is research consultant at the Department of Children and Child Care at the German Youth Institute. His research concerns media literacy development, media use during the life course, media effects, and employs qualitative and quantitative methodology.
Fang Yu
Fang Yu is working at Suzhou Early Childhood Education College (Jingsu, China) as Associate Professor and her research is centered on digital technologies and media use in early childhood education.