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The effect of parental involvement on young children’s independent literacy practice and achievement among preschoolers in China

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Abstract

Early childhood is a critical period for achieving the formation of literacy development in an individual’s life. Home literacy is critical in organizing young children with a foundation for their future intellectual development. Empirical studies have found that the quality of parental (mother) involvement is as important as communicating prospects. The current quantitative study aims to explore the influence of parents’ involvement in children’s literacy development in a home setting. Children aged three to six years; and their parents from six preschools in the Lianyungang City, China, have been involved in this study. Data for the study have been collected using a non-experimental correlational research design approach. Three hundred eighty-eight valid questionnaires were collected from parents, and 388 young children responded to the Chinese literacy test, including reading and writing. SPSS and AMOS have been utilized to analyze the data. The results show a strong positive and direct relationship between parental (mother) involvement (i.e. parent’s belief in children’s literacy development, parent-child literacy activities, home literacy materials, and parental teaching behaviours) and children’s independent literacy practice and literacy achievement. Moreover, parental (mother) involvement has been found to have a significant positive influence on children’s independent literacy practice and children’s literacy achievement. However, more research needs to be conducted on the influence of parents’ involvement in children’s literacy practices, development and achievement in China.

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  1. Faculty of Teacher Education, Lishui University, Lishui city, Zhejiang province, 323000, China

    DanDan Tang & Zhao Jia

  2. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Mohd Nazri Abdul Rahman & Fong Peng Chew

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Tang, D., Zhao, J., Abdul Rahman, M. et al. The effect of parental involvement on young children’s independent literacy practice and achievement among preschoolers in China. Curr Psychol 43, 13761–13774 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-05334-1

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