Unlocking Literacy: Perceptions and Practices of Parents in Nurturing Reading and Writing Skills at Home

Abstract

Background and Aim: A safe and resource-rich home environment is considered a crucial requirement for the diverse development of children's skills. The study explores the perceptions and practices of parents of students, whether they experience learning disabilities or not, regarding reading and writing activities at home. The researcher followed the descriptive analytical approach with a study sample of 119 parents, including 40 parents of students with learning disabilities (LD) and 79 parents of students without learning disabilities, all having children in the third and fourth grades. Method: The researcher employed the Literacy Activities Survey and Parents' Perceptions of Reading and Writing Activities Survey, along with open-ended questions, as part of the research methodology. Results and Discussion: The results indicated that parents of students with LD and without LD engage in various reading and writing activities at home. Parents of students identified as without LD showed variations in the frequency of reading and writing activities conducted at home compared to other parents. Additionally, variations were found in the home literacy activities of parents of students with LD based on qualifications, favoring those with higher educational levels. However, no significant differences were observed among parents of students without LD. The findings also indicated that parents in both groups generally had moderate assessments of the desirability and effectiveness of reading and writing activities. Differences were observed in the desire ratings for five activities, favoring parents of students without LD. Two activities were found to be more effective for parents of students with LD, while six activities were more effective for parents of students without LD. Parents expressed a heightened interest in educating their children at home but acknowledged the occasional lack of sufficient knowledge to assist them. To overcome this, they suggested increased communication and the organization of workshops.