Parents’ Use of Mobile Documentation in a Reggio Emilia-Inspired School

Although educators see the potential of mobile documentation as a tool to enhance communication between children and parents in early childhood, very little empirical research has been conducted on how parents use it. The purpose of this survey study was to investigate parents’ use of mobile documentation in a Reggio Emilia-inspired school. Specifically, we investigated to determine whether the pattern of using mobile documentation is different in fathers and mothers. A total of 274 parents (103 fathers and 171 mothers) from nine classrooms in one Reggio Emilia-inspired school participated in the survey. The independent samples t test and Chi square statistics results showed significant differences in use of mobile documentation by fathers and mothers. Mothers checked it more frequently, left messages more often, and shared the information provided with extended family more than fathers. A discussion of patterns of using mobile documentation is provided.