Digital Play and Media Use in Early Childhood Education: Challenges and Strategies for Nursery Schools in Adavi, Kogi State

The rapid integration of digital technologies into daily life has reshaped howyoungchildren engage with their environment. Early childhood, a critical period for cognitive, emotional, and social development, is now significantly influenced by digital play, media, andinteractive technologies. This shift has blurred the boundaries between traditional playanddigital play, presenting both opportunities and challenges for educators, parents, andresearchers. This paper examines the role of digital play in nursery educationanditsimplications for learning and development. Digital play, including video games, educationalapps, and interactive media, provides opportunities for creativity, problem-solving, engagement, and personalized learning. Media consumption through educational televisionanddigital platforms also broadens children’s exposure to diverse content, supportingculturalawareness, language acquisition, and emotional intelligence. However, technology integrationraises concerns about excessive screen time, reduced physical activity, diminishedsocialinteraction, and exposure to inappropriate content, which may affect developmental outcomes. The study discusses both benefits and challenges of digital play in early childhoodsettings. Itconcludes that intentional use of digital play fosters engagement, 21st century skills, andaccessto learning. To address challenges, the paper recommends training teachers in digital systems, prioritizing quality and interactivity over quantity of screen time, and using digital toolsthatare open-ended, creative, and responsive to child input. The paper advocates a balancedapproach where technology complements rather than replaces traditional hands-onplay, andcalls for age-appropriate digital content guided by caregivers and educators