Unique effects of book-reading at 9-months on vocabulary development at 36-months: insights from a nationally representative sample of Irish families
Leech, Kathryn, McNally, SinéadORCID: 0000-0002-9501-2535, Daly, MichaelORCID: 0000-0003-1557-8326 and Corriveau, KathleenORCID: 0000-0002-6354-1141
(2021)
Unique effects of book-reading at 9-months on vocabulary development at 36-months: insights from a nationally representative sample of Irish families.
Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 58
(1).
pp. 242-253.
ISSN 0885-2006
It is well-established that participation in shared book reading interactions with caregivers
supports children’s early language and literacy development. Most of this literature focuses on
reading experiences during the preschool period. Less is known about the nature and importance
of such practices during infancy. Therefore, the goal of this study was to examine literacy
practices between parents and infants in a large cohort study, Growing Up in Ireland. Interview,
survey, and direct measurements of children’s language skills were used to examine whether
parent-report of book reading practices when children were 9-months predicted child expressive
vocabulary at 36-months (N=9,171). Regression analysis indicated that approximately 80% of 9-
month-old Irish children are read to by parents. Characteristics of families who were more likely
to report reading with children emerged: those with higher educational attainment, fewer
depressive symptoms, and those who report a high-quality home language environment (e.g.,
reported talking more to children during everyday activities). Furthermore, children who were
read to at 9-months had stronger expressive vocabulary skills at 36-months, even after
accounting for socio-demographic and home literacy environment covariates measured at both 9-
and 36-months. Results are discussed using a bioecological framework to describe how proximal
and distal factors in the child’s environment converge to impact early childhood literacy
development.
Metadata
Item Type:
Article (Published)
Refereed:
Yes
Additional Information:
Contact email: sinead.mcnally@dcu.ie
Uncontrolled Keywords:
Early Shared Reading; Vocabulary; shared book-reading; infancy; literacy; parents