Influence of Parental Scaffolding on Digital Literacy Development among Primary School-Aged Children in Some Selected States in Nigeria

ADEWARA, Oluwsagun Seun; NUHU, Kehinde Muritala; ADETEJU, Kehinde Adeyemi; IBRAHIM, Muhammed; RAHEEM, Akeem Omowumi; HAMZA, Garba Leko; OLUMORIN, Charles Olubode

doi:10.64348/zije.2026385

Authors

ADEWARA, Oluwsagun Seun Author
NUHU, Kehinde Muritala Author
ADETEJU, Kehinde Adeyemi Author
IBRAHIM, Muhammed Author
RAHEEM, Akeem Omowumi Author
HAMZA, Garba Leko Author
OLUMORIN, Charles Olubode Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.64348/zije.2026385

Abstract

The integration of digital technology into Nigerian households has redefined informal learning, necessitating a shift from passive screen time to structured educational engagement. This study examined the influence of parental scaffolding on children’s digital literacy development and the moderating role of the home learning environment. The scope of the study covered parents of primary school-aged children across three geopolitical hubs: Kano, Lagos, and Rivers States. Adopting a quantitative descriptive survey design, data were collected from 384 randomly sampled parents using the "Parental Scaffolding and Digital Literacy Questionnaire" (PSDLQ), which demonstrated a high reliability coefficient of 0.85. Findings revealed that parental scaffolding—specifically monitoring content (x̅ = 3.16) and providing active guidance (x̅ = 3.06)—positively influences digital literacy. Furthermore, while the home learning environment provides essential infrastructure, such as internet-enabled devices (x̅ = 2.99), inferential analysis using ANOVA ($p = 0.042$) confirmed that the level of parental scaffolding is a significant driver of digital competence. The study concluded that technological access alone is insufficient; the quality of adult mediation is paramount. Consequently, it is recommended that the Nigerian government and educational stakeholders develop digital parenting frameworks and community-based literacy programs to empower parents with the technical skills necessary to support their children.

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