Proceedings of The International Social Sciences Conference
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Child Reactions to Maternal Involvement in Shared Storybook Reading
Azimeh Jafari Sadr, Rumaya Juhari, and Shahla Ostovar
ABSTRACT:
This qualitative study explored mother-child interactions during storybook reading sessions in Iran, focusing on attitudes and behaviors. Twenty-three mother-child pairs, with children aged 3 to 4 years, were observed during one session each, resulting in nearly 17 hours of analyzed video footage. Three main themes emerged: cognitive factors, emotional factors, and children’s responses, with fourteen sub-themes identified. The findings indicated that mothers significantly contribute to child development by explaining book titles, engaging with the text, and promoting literacy skills. Emotional elements were evident through expressive voices and physical interactions. Children’s responses varied based on parental involvement, reading practices, and technological distractions. The study highlights the importance of home interactions in shaping children’s literacy experiences and emotional connections, providing insights for parents, educators, and researchers on enhancing children’s literacy development.
keywords: mother-child interactions, storybook reading, early childhood development