National Survey - DataChildMap

The DataChildMap report investigates how Italian families with children aged 0–6 perceive and manage digital technologies in domestic and educational contexts. The study is based on a national survey (N=2000; n=780 for the 0–6 group) conducted between March and May 2023 using a CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interview) method with stratified random sampling. To ensure inclusivity, respondents with lower education levels were also reached via phone interviews.

The questionnaire, implemented via LimeSurvey, was structured into sections capturing: (1) family demographics, parental education, and digital skills; (2) children’s age, educational setting, and technology use; (3) household access to digital devices and connectivity; and (4) parental perceptions and concerns regarding data privacy, digital rights, and educational technologies in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC). Items explored the use of educational platforms, social media, smart toys, and AI-based tools, alongside attitudes toward adult supervision, institutional support, and public-private collaborations in technology provision. Likert scales and open responses were combined to capture nuanced opinions.

The survey results reveal that parents’ knowledge of ECEC digital practices is limited, with awareness shaped by education level and geography. Despite recognizing potential learning benefits, families express concerns about data privacy, profiling, and insufficient institutional communication. These findings underscore the need for policies and co-educational strategies that enhance critical digital literacy and safeguard children’s rights.

In this open data record, we present:

a) The Codebook

b) The dataset. Please consider that the city of respondent's, school details and some open responses have been eliminated for anonymisation purposes.

c) The initial report elaborated in the context of the research.