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What Parents Talk About When They Talk About Learning: A National Survey About Young Children and Science

March 1, 2018 | Media and Technology, Informal/Formal Connections
Previous research has identified parental involvement—the ways parents and other caring adults interact with children in and outside of the home, and the kinds of learning materials with which parents surround children—as key to helping children develop knowledge and skills in literacy and math (Bassok, Finch, Lee, Reardon, & Waldfogel, 2016; Burgess, Hecht, & Lonigan, 2002; Niklas, Nguyen, Cloney, Tayler, & Adams, 2016; Sénéchal & LeFevre, 2002; Skwarchuk, Sowinski, & LeFevre, 2014). Parental support may be critical to children’s developing knowledge and understanding in science as well. This study used a nationally representative parent survey, combined with in-depth interviews and home visits with a smaller sample of families, to learn how parents of young children, particularly low-income parents, encourage and take part in their children’s learning, especially their science learning. This study also investigated parent perceptions and reported use of science-related educational media, such as television shows, videos, online games, and mobile apps. Report created by Education Development Center, SRI Education as part of the Ready to Learn Initiative. Survey and results are listed in the appendix.

TEAM MEMBERS

  • Megan Silander
    Author
    Ready to Learn Initiative
  • Todd Grindal
    Author
  • Naomi Hupert
    Author
  • Elisa Garcia
    Author
  • Kea Anderson
    Author
  • Philip Vahey
    Author
  • Shelley Pasnik
    Author
  • Citation

    Funders

    Other
    Funding Program: Department of Education
    Award Number: U295A150003
    Other
    Funding Program: CFDA
    Award Number: 84.295A
    Resource Type: Research | Survey
    Discipline: General STEM
    Audience: Elementary School Children (6-10) | Pre-K Children (0-5) | Parents/Caregivers | Administration/Leadership/Policymakers | Educators/Teachers | Museum/ISE Professionals | Learning Researchers
    Environment Type: Media and Technology | Broadcast Media | Websites, Mobile Apps, and Online Media | Pre-K/Early Childhood Programs

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