When and why parents involve young children in video communication

Recent media reports have suggested video communication use by young children. However, the popularity of video communication by young children has yet been determined. Although some research has shown similarities between young children's experience of a parent's physical and virtual presence, little is known about the ecological applications of video communication and its benefits to young children. Using a brief quantitative questionnaire, this study shows that younger children started video communication at significantly earlier ages than the older children in the sample (n = 308). Qualitative responses from parents of 17 children suggested different perceptions of their children's video communication experience. These preliminary findings are considered in the context of the value of video communication in different situations, the developmental factors associated with screen media including memory transfer across modalities, and the development of skills that facilitate effective communication.