Every new generation of children grows in a digitally richer and richer environment. As children increasingly use digital technology, it plays a significant role in their upbringing, education, and development. Traditional digital devices, like television, have been replaced by new devices that enable quick and easy access to diverse content, entertainment and social interactions. Therefore, parents need to monitor their children's activities on digital devices, and to do this successfully, they need to be media literate. This way, parents can choose appropriate content aligned with their child's development. We can say that a modern parenting challenge is that children perceive each other more through screens than through direct eye-toeye contact. The question arises about how this may impact a child's development and perception of the world nowadays. Numerous studies address this issue, as significant increases in the availability and exposure of digital technology to children is being observed. Uncontrolled access can lead to serious development issues and dependencies. This paper will examine the issue of children's dependence on digital technology and it's both negative and positive impacts on the overall development of preschool and early childhood. A research study was conducted among parents at the Pčelica kindergarten in Šibenik, with the participation of 53 parents, whose average age was 35 years. The study mostly involved women, mothers whose children attend the Pčelica kindergarten. The research aimed to analyze participants' perspectives on the impact of digital technology on child development, estimate the amount of time children spend using digital devices in their free time, and compare it with expert recommendations. Additionally, the research explored how parents see effects of technology on their children's behavior.