Effects of a Parent-Implemented Shared Book Reading Program on Turkish Children: Low-SES Families

Abstract

The effects of language and literacy skills developed during early childhood on subsequent literacy achievement are well-known. As children's first teachers are their parents, supporting these skills in the home environment is necessary. This study investigated the effect of the Shared Book Reading (SBR) program based on print awareness on children's language and early literacy skills in children from low socioeconomic households. Thirty - four mother-child dyads were randomly assigned to an intervention or a control group. Mothers in the intervention group attended training sessions on using shared book reading strategies through picture books for 12 weeks. The analyses revealed positive effects of the parent-implemented shared book reading program on early literacy skills and the early literacy environment. These findings highlight the potential positive impact of a parent-implemented shared book-reading program on the early literacy experiences and skills of children from low socioeconomic households. The findings show that the mothers in the intervention group were able to transform their children's home education environment into one that valued and contributed to the children's early literacy experiences and had a positive effect on early literacy skills.