Reading and Mathematics in the Home: Parents' Expectations and Children's Engagement

• In Event: Impact of Families in Promoting Children's Physical and Cognitive Development

Abstract

This study addresses three overarching issues using an online survey. (1) What do parents do with their children to facilitate their early mathematics and literacy learning? What are their beliefs and attitudes about academic socialization, for both mathematics and literacy, and what opportunities do these parents provide their children? (2) Does this differ for mathematics and literacy and/or for boys and girls? (3) What is the relation between mathematics and literacy socialization? Respondents were 318 U.S. parents of young children (3-8 years). We consider activities within each domain consistent with what is called playful learning, an emphasis on engaging children’s interest. Parents’ academic socialization was an important predictor of children’s participation in mathematics and literacy tasks.

Authors

• Susan Sonnenschein, University of Maryland - Baltimore County

• Michele Stites, University of Maryland - Baltimore County

• Hatice Gursoy, University of Maryland - Baltimore County

• Besjane Krasniqi, University of Maryland - Baltimore County