Caregivers' reading practices to promote literacy in a South African children's home: Experiences and perceptions.
Faadhilah Tayob, Sharon Moonsamy
PMID 30035609WHAT IT FOUND
Ten caregivers in a South African children’s home read to children in the evening.
Many saw three times weekly as beneficial. They used bedtime stories, cottage libraries, pictures, and older children helping. They wanted home-language books.
Key findings
01All caregivers read to children in the evening, mostly before bed, but reading did not occur daily; 40% found reading three times a week beneficial.
02Caregivers encouraged reading through bedtime stories, mini-libraries in each cottage, set reading times, pictures, and older children helping younger children.
03Most materials at the home were in English, caregivers did not read in other languages, and they wanted materials in children’s home languages.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study included only 10 caregivers in one children’s home, so it may not reflect other homes. It reports caregiver practices and perceptions, not measured child reading or language outcomes. The authors say the results may not be generalised because they relate to one context. A language barrier was noted in one interview, and an interpreter was used. Caregiver self-report may not fully capture how consistently the described practices happened.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as proof that caregiver reading practices improve children’s literacy. It reports 10 caregivers’ experiences and perceptions in one home, not child outcomes or a tested intervention.