Media and Storybook Interventions to Boost Preschool Literacy with Caregiver Involvement
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-11397463 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new project will test if a media-based program for low-SES preschoolers and their caregivers can improve early literacy better than traditional shared reading.
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 | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $406,714 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD114687-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397463 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children in the 0-5 (preschool) range from low-SES backgrounds and their caregivers.
✕Less likely to help
Families without access to media-enabled interventions or those markedly resistant to digital tools may see limited benefits.
What this research studies
This project, based at Ohio State University, will compare a media-based caregiver-led literacy program to a caregiver-led shared-reading approach for children aged 0-11 (focus on preschoolers). It uses an implementation science framework to find barriers and facilitators to using media in families’ routines and to see if media improves adherence and exposure to print references. The team will look at how media tools can make learning more consistent and accessible at home, with the goal of strengthening school readiness. If successful, the approach could be adopted in real-world settings to help children from low-SES backgrounds start school with stronger literacy skills.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, families could access a more engaging, easier-to-use way to support early literacy at home.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows print-referencing storybooks improve literacy, but caregiver adherence has been a barrier; this study tests if media can improve adherence.
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.