Effect of Touch Screen Tablet Use on Fine Motor Development of Young Children |
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| Authors: | Ling-Yi Lin Rong-Ju Cherng Yung-Jung Chen |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan;2. Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan;3. Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan;4. Department of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan;5. Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan |
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| Abstract: | Aim: To investigate the effects of touch-screen tablet use on the fine motor development of preschool children without developmental delay. Methods: 40 children who used a touch-screen tablet more 60 minutes per week for at least 1 month received a 24-week home fine motor activity program using a touch-screen-tablet. 40 children matched for age (mean = 61.0 months) and sex who did not meet the criteria for previous tablet use received a 24-week program consisting of manual play activities. Motor performance was measured using the Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency. The two-factor mixed design ANOVA was used to compare performance of the touch-screen tablet and non-touch-screen tablet groups. Results: Pretest analysis showed no group differences in motor performance and pinch strength. At posttest, children in the nontouch-screen-tablet group made significantly greater changes in fine motor precision (p < 0.001), fine motor integration (p = 0.008), and manual dexterity (p = 0.003). Conclusion: Using a touch screen tablet extensively might be disadvantageous for the fine motor development of preschool children. |
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| Keywords: | Touch-screen tablet fine motor preschool child development |
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