Fathers and young children’s literacy experiences in a family environment

Abstract

Research provides evidence that fathers can promote the development of their children's literacy skills, including reading books to them that are appropriate, engaging their children in discussions about books they read, recording in a notebook the books the children have read and encouraging their children to read more books. This review presents some emerging findings and issues in the research literature that are relevant to the role of fathers in promoting their children's literacy learning. It also summarizes the concerns and findings presented in selected research studies. Recommendations are provided for both researchers and educators.

Father Involvement and Cognitive Development in Early and Middle Childhood: A Systematic Review

“…The findings of the reviewed articles (including reviews and meta-analyses), focusing in particular on the association between father involvement and children's cognitive skills, showed a positive and statistically significant association during early childhood (Flouri and Buchanan, 2004; McBride et al, 2005, 2009; Roopnarine et al, 2006; Saracho, 2007b; Downer et al, 2008; Coley et al, 2011; Fagan and Lee, 2012; McWayne et al, 2013; Duursma, 2014; Jeynes, 2015; Kim and Hill, 2015; Baker, 2017, 2018) beyond mothers' parenting (Roopnarine et al, 2006). More specifically, Fagan and Lee (2012) argued that this relationship was significantly strengthened for children living in single-mother households, whereas Coley et al (2011) found that family characteristics were trifling.…”

“…As seen, although many studies highlighted that mothers were engaged in their children's education more frequently than fathers (Duursma, 2014; Kim and Hill, 2015; Baker, 2018), at the same time, there is strong evidence that fathers can play a unique role in children's cognitive skills development (Flouri and Buchanan, 2004; McBride et al, 2005, 2009; Roopnarine et al, 2006; Saracho, 2007b; Downer et al, 2008; Fagan and Lee, 2012; McWayne et al, 2013; Duursma, 2014; Jeynes, 2015; Kim and Hill, 2015; Baker, 2017, 2018).…”

“…Although some attempts of synthesis have already been produced, many are prior to 2010 (Saracho, 2007a,b; Downer et al, 2008), while the more recent are focused on specific themes, such as educational achievement (Lipscomb, 2011; Jeynes, 2015; Kim and Hill, 2015), and none were published after 2016. Consequently, the previously presented questions call for a systematic examination of the existing research concerning the association between father involvement and children's cognitive skills during early and middle childhood, to widen our knowledge about the definition and measurement of father involvement, the pathways of its influence on children's cognitive skills development, and the differences from/similarities to mother involvement.…”

Father Reflections on Their Involvement With Primary School Students: Connections to School Literacy Learning

“…(McBride, Dyer, & Laxman, 2013, p. 823). Educators should rely on the wealth of home-based knowledge and implement this knowledge in school-based practices (Saracho, 2007).…”

Predictors of mothers' and fathers' teaching of reading and mathematics during kindergarten and Grade 1

“…There is also some research on fathers' involvement in children's schooling (Bronstein, 1984;Flouri, 2005;Flouri & Buchanan, 2003; for a review see Saracho, 2007). For example, Flouri and Buchanan (2003) examined the predictors of fathers' reading to their children.…”