Most Head Start parents (74 percent) reported reading to their child three or more times a week. Children whose parents read to them every day had greater vocabulary scores than children whose parents read to them less frequently. In addition, when parents read to their child at least 3 times a week, their children had more positive approaches to learning than children whose parents read to them less often.
FAMILY ACTIVITIES WITH CHILDREN
Head Start families spent time with their children doing numerous weekly and monthly educational activities. The more activities that parents and children did together, the higher the children’s emergent literacy scores and better their behavior.
More Weekly Activities (such as)
- Telling a story
- Teaching letters, words or numbers
- Teaching songs or music
- Doing arts and crafts
- Playing with toys or games
- Doing errands
- Doing chores
Is related to higher scores in vocabulary and color naming and less aggressive and hyperactive behaviors and fewer overall problem behaviors.
More Monthly Activities (such as)
- Visiting the library, shows, museums, and zoos
- Attending community or sporting events
- Discussing family history
Is related to higher scores in social awareness, color naming, counting, book knowledge, print concepts and less aggressive behavior.
