Preventing screen time in children aged 3 to 6: creation of a children's picture book
Abstract
Context. Screen time for children aged 3–6 years should remain the exception, be limited in duration, and be supervised by an adult. In 2022, French children aged 3–5 years spent an average of 1 hour 22 minutes a day on screens. Activities such as reading, which are beneficial to a child’s development, are sometimes neglected in favor of screen time. Objective. To create a children’s book aimed at children aged 3 to 6, with the aim of preventing inappropriate screen use. This book is designed to provide both children and their carers with an interactive reading experience that encourages discussion about screens and their potential risks. Methods. The content was defined and validated using a modified nominal group consensus method. The book’s design was based on the principles of dialogic interactive reading and on Sabine Duflo’s four-step method. Results. The nominal group comprised 11 members, including health professionals, education professionals, communication experts and parents. The book features five anthropomorphic characters facing problematic situations involving screens, followed by a sixth character who offers advice. The proposed interactions were inspired by a questionnaire designed to identify inappropriate screen use. Two parenting guides are also included in the book. Conclusion. Choosing a children’s book as a mean of prevention enabled it to serve as a mediation tool between children and their environment. It was the first prevention book on screen use developed using a consensus-based method. The book could serve as a resource during consultations, helping to meet parents’ expectations by addressing the topic of the screen uses more regularly and comprehensively.
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BibTeX
@article{morival2026preventing,
title = {{Preventing screen time in children aged 3 to 6: creation of a children's picture book}},
author = {Emmanuelle Morival and Hélène Vaillant-Roussel and Mickaël Bigeault},
journal = {French Academic Journal of Primary Care},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.46298/fajpc.19418},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05758783v1},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Preventing screen time in children aged 3 to 6: creation of a children's picture book
AU - Emmanuelle Morival
AU - Hélène Vaillant-Roussel
AU - Mickaël Bigeault
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/22
JO - French Academic Journal of Primary Care
DO - 10.46298/fajpc.19418
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05758783v1
AB - Context. Screen time for children aged 3–6 years should remain the exception, be limited in duration, and be supervised by an adult. In 2022, French children aged 3–5 years spent an average of 1 hour 22 minutes a day on screens. Activities such as reading, which are beneficial to a child’s development, are sometimes neglected in favor of screen time. Objective. To create a children’s book aimed at children aged 3 to 6, with the aim of preventing inappropriate screen use. This book is designed to provide both children and their carers with an interactive reading experience that encourages discussion about screens and their potential risks. Methods. The content was defined and validated using a modified nominal group consensus method. The book’s design was based on the principles of dialogic interactive reading and on Sabine Duflo’s four-step method. Results. The nominal group comprised 11 members, including health professionals, education professionals, communication experts and parents. The book features five anthropomorphic characters facing problematic situations involving screens, followed by a sixth character who offers advice. The proposed interactions were inspired by a questionnaire designed to identify inappropriate screen use. Two parenting guides are also included in the book. Conclusion. Choosing a children’s book as a mean of prevention enabled it to serve as a mediation tool between children and their environment. It was the first prevention book on screen use developed using a consensus-based method. The book could serve as a resource during consultations, helping to meet parents’ expectations by addressing the topic of the screen uses more regularly and comprehensively.
SN - 3130-334X
ER -