Print and e-Book Shared Reading: A Comparison of Maternal Language Use When Reading to Infants

• In Event: 34.059 - Young Children's Multimodal Literacies

Abstract

As children increasingly use technology, new literacy practices are emerging, creating new ways in which literacy is shared between parent and child. Yet, little is known about these at home digital literacy practices. A mixed-methodology was used to compare the experiences of 30 mothers with their 12-month-old infants during print and e-book shared reading. This study examined the maternal language that emerged within each context. Results suggested that language strategies varied in conjunction with the demands of each media platform. While print afforded mother’s greater opportunity to scaffold literacy and concept development, mothers exchanged their role as literacy leader for their infant’s play and participation with the e-book, where language was more often used to praise and encourage.

Author

• Corinne Eggleston, University at Buffalo - SUNY