The researchers, from Swinburne University of Technology, have received a Google Faculty Research Award to study whether the use of touchscreen devices is more like toy play or television in its effect on learning.
"Touchscreen apps for tots are growing in popularity, but whether these activities are good or bad for a child's development is yet to be determined," said lead researcher Dr Jordy Kaufman, founder and Director of the Swinburne BabyLab, Australia's first research centre for infant cognitive neuroscience.
"There is a popular view that TV is bad for kids and therefore tablet devices are also bad, but there has been no published research to date in this area," Dr Kaufman said.
"Right now parents are getting conflicting stories. On the one hand, there are thousands of touchscreen games which claim to aid with children's educational and mental development.
"Meanwhile, some experts warn that any screen time at all can be damaging to young children.
"Parents are understandably conflicted as to whether they should allow their children to use tablet computers and if so how often, for what duration and for what type of activities."
The researchers will study children aged between four and six, duplicating a real-world hands-on activity with a virtual activity on a tablet computer.
The Google Research Awards support cutting-edge research in areas of mutual interest. Each proposal is assessed on its impact, innovation and relevance to Google and its customers.
The Swinburne project is the only Australian-based research project to be funded in the current round.
Dr Kaufman will be discussing the impact of touchscreen applications on child development as part of Science Week activities.
