A Review on the Effects of Digital Play on Children’s Cognitive and Socio-Emotional Development

This paper aims at presenting a systematic review of research assessing the effects of digital play on cognitive and socio-emotional development in 2- to 11-year-old children. After a careful assessment of articles potentially relevant for the topic, the full text screening identified 5 studies matching the criteria to be included in the review. Findings revealed a strong complexity in the role of digital game for the children's development, as both positive (e.g., pro-social behaviors and social anxiety) and negative (e.g., anti-social behaviors and isolation) effects have been detected. Furthermore, as regards the promotion of a children's healthy development, results shed light on the need of considering the complex interaction between intrinsic aspects of the digital play, individual characteristics, and contextual factors. Recommendations for future research are reported.