Reducing gadget use intensity in preschool-aged children through storytelling and coloring therapy

The use of gadgets in the current era of globalization has become a concerning trend, especially among preschool children, leading to addiction and detrimental effects on their physical, psychological, and emotional health. It has also resulted in increased social isolation and hindered development. The impact of this trend is significantly influenced by the roles of parents, family, and the surrounding environment. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of health education using modules on the benefits of storytelling and coloring therapy in enhancing parents' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding prudent gadget use in preschool children. The research design was a pre-post quasi-experiment without a control group. The population comprised parents with preschool children attending 11 public kindergartens in Samarinda City. A total sampling method was utilized, resulting in 303 respondents. Health education intervention occurred after the pre-test, followed by one month of assistance and a subsequent post-test. The research instrument was a questionnaire adapted from the theory of planned behavior, assessing parents' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to providing gadgets to children. Data analysis included univariate and bivariate analyses using the Wilcoxon test. The results indicate a significant influence of health education using modules on the benefits of storytelling and coloring therapy on parents' wise gadget use in preschool children (p-value < 0.005). Thus, health education for parents on prudent gadget use in preschoolers is highly recommended, particularly during parent meetings at school.