The research into the effects of parent involvement is deep and compelling. Consider:
- Parental involvement in their child's reading has been found to be the most important determinant of language and emergent literacy (Bus, van Ljzendoorn & Pellegrini, 1995).
- Parents who introduce their babies to books give them a head start in school and an advantage over their peers throughout primary school (Wade & Moore, 2000).
- Parental involvement in their child's literacy practices is a more powerful force than other family background variables, such as social class, family size and level of parental education (Flouri & Buchanan, 2004).
- The earlier parents become involved in their children's literacy practices, the more profound the results and the longer-lasting the effects (Mullis, Mullis, Cornille et al., 2004).