Most children in contemporary society are born into homes where digital technologies feature prominently in their families’ everyday language and literacy practices. Even the youngest children begin to observe and use language in authentic contexts that include digitally-mediated activities, such as reading digital books, playing onscreen, finding information online and interacting with distant family and friends. Digital technologies offer rich opportunities to promote early talk and literacy yet many parents, educators and caregivers are unsure how to support very young children’s engagement with new media in meaningful and playful ways that benefit their learning and their futures, or how to manage young children’s digital safety and security.

We report on the design and findings from the first stage of a major ESRC funded research project across the UK. In phase 1 we conducted a systematic literature review. We ran a survey, translated into 13 languages, of parents and guardians to enquire about attitudes and practices involving digital media with their young children. At this conference we will be able to reveal our findings. Subsequent project phases will include interviews N=60 of families and education and care professionals and finally N=40 detailed case studies in homes using a qualitative methods palette.