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Evaluation of a parent‐delivered early language enrichment programme: evidence from a randomised controlled trial
Author(s) -
Burgoyne Kelly,
Gardner Rachel,
Whiteley Helen,
Snowling Margaret J.,
Hulme Charles
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of child psychology and psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.652
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1469-7610
pISSN - 0021-9630
DOI - 10.1111/jcpp.12819
Subject(s) - randomized controlled trial , psychology , language development , motor skill , literacy , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , medicine , pedagogy , surgery
Background It is widely believed that increasing parental involvement can improve children's educational outcomes although we lack good evidence for such claims. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a parent‐delivered early language enrichment programme. Methods We conducted a randomised controlled trial ( RCT ) with 208 preschool children and their parents living in socially diverse areas in the United Kingdom. Families were allocated to an oral language programme ( N = 103) or an active control programme targeting motor skills ( N = 105). Parents delivered the programmes to their child at home in daily 20‐min sessions over 30 weeks of teaching. Results Children receiving the language programme made significantly larger gains in language ( d = .21) and narrative skills ( d = .36) than children receiving the motor skills programme at immediate posttest. Effects on language were maintained 6 months later ( d = .34), and at this point, the language group also scored higher on tests of early literacy ( d values=.35 and .42). There was no evidence that the movement programme improved motor skills. Conclusions This study provides evidence for the effectiveness of a parent‐delivered language enrichment programme. Further large‐scale evaluations of the programme are needed to confirm and extend these findings.