Improving early literacy skills in preschoolers through media and caregiver engagement
Official title: Efficacy and Mechanisms of Media and Storybook Interventions to Promote Children’s Early Literacy Skills via Caregiver Engagement
Funded at Ohio State University · NIH-10858416 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how using fun media can help preschool kids from low-income families learn to read better, by getting their caregivers involved, and it compares this new method to regular reading together to see which works best.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 5, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $404,515 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HD114687-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10858416 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are preschool-aged children (0-5 years) from low-socioeconomic backgrounds and their caregivers.
✕Less likely to help
Children from higher socioeconomic backgrounds or those not engaged in caregiver-led literacy activities may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how a media-based intervention can enhance early literacy skills in preschoolers from low-socioeconomic backgrounds by engaging their caregivers. The approach compares the effectiveness of this media intervention to traditional shared-reading practices, aiming to identify barriers to caregiver participation and improve adherence to literacy activities. By integrating educational media into daily routines, the study seeks to increase children's exposure to print references, which are crucial for literacy development. The research is grounded in an implementation science framework to ensure practical application and effectiveness in real-world settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve early literacy skills in children from low-SES families, setting a strong foundation for their future academic success.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success with storybook interventions, indicating that media-based approaches may also be effective, though this specific method is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio State University
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dore, Rebecca — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Dore, Rebecca
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.