“And then it’s my turn”: Negotiating participation in tablet activities in early childhood education and care.

The study investigates how kindergarten children use digital tools such as tablets, and how they interact with each other when they use them. The research question is: How are participant positions implemented and distributed in digital literacy activities?

The results show that roles and interaction change dynamically, and that good digital interaction requires children to be involved and focused together. Some apps can be useful, even if they don't provide clear instructions. The child who has the tablet uses different methods to ensure collaboration and control, and the technology is used in a variety of ways.

The data material is taken from the research project Digital Tools in Early Education and Care, which investigates children's digital literacy practices. The data used in this study consist of video recordings (70 hours in total) from three kindergarten institutions, where the researchers spent one to two weeks in each. Thirty-five children aged four to six and ten kindergarten teachers participated. Two cameras were used: one followed the children and their use of digital tools such as tablets, and one followed the kindergarten teachers. The analysis focused on interaction and participants' actions.

Aarsand, P., & Sørenssen, I. K. (2021). "“And then it’s my turn”: Negotiating participation in tablet activities in early childhood education and care". Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, DOI: 10.1080/13603116.2021.1950976