Effect of Sensory-Motor Play on Screen Time and Social-Emotional Development In 2-3 Year Olds

Year 2026, Volume: 2 Issue: 1, 14 - 32, 28.01.2026

Özlem Kiriş , Belma Tuğrul

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the impact of the neuroplasticity-based Developmental Sensomotor Play Program (GEDOP) on screen time and social-emotional development in 2-3-year-old children who spend more than three hours in front of screens. A quasi-experimental design with pre-test/post-test control groups was employed, combining both quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data on social-emotional development were collected using the Portage Development Inventory, while qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with parents. The quantitative data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon test, and the qualitative data were analyzed through descriptive content analysis. The findings indicated that GEDOP had a significant positive impact on the experimental group’s development and raised parents' awareness of their children's developmental progress.

Keywords

Family education , parent views , parent-child communication , screen exposure , social emotional development.

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Social and Humanities Ethics Committee of Istanbul Aydın University, and informed consent was obtained from the individuals responding to the interview questions through the 'Parental Consent Form.

Supporting Institution

No financial or material support was received from any institution, organization, or third party at any stage of the research.

Project Number

1

Thanks

Not applicable.

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