How can touchscreen mobile game applications support inclusion and participation in science learning of preschoolers from disadvantaged backgrounds?

Preschool learning experiences are crucial for defining early year school achievement and longer-term employment and social outcomes. The majority of children from diverse income levels live in spaces with smartphones and tablets. Gaming using touchscreens emerges as the most popular form of children's play overtaking all other forms of traditional play. The aim of this proposal is to explore the potential of touchscreen devices and mobile game applications to support domain specific and domain general scientific thinking of preschoolers from disadvantaged backgrounds. This aim will be achieved through a comparative study with 100 preschoolers (aged 3-5) in the UK