Does being read to predict reading?
A smaller effect on reading itself than often claimed
A smaller effect on reading itself than often claimed
The National Early Literacy Panel found that shared-reading programs helped spoken language and knowledge about print. It also reports that earlier research summaries had cast doubt on the size of the benefit usually claimed for reading picture books with young children.
The National Early Literacy Panel notes that reading with young children is often called the single most important thing adults can do for early literacy.
In the source’s own words“Shared-reading activities are often recommended as the single most important thing adults can do to promote the emergent literacy skills of young children.”
The panel reports that earlier research summaries had cast doubt on the size of the benefit usually claimed for reading picture books with young children.
In the source’s own words“their results called into question the positive effects often claimed for reading or sharing picture books with young children.”
The panel's own analysis found that shared-reading programs helped spoken language and knowledge about print.
In the source’s own words“shared-reading interventions can have a significant, substantial, and positive impact both on young children’s oral language skills and on young children’s print knowledge.”
The panel lists knowledge of how print and books work among the early skills that were moderately linked to later reading.
In the source’s own words“concepts about print: knowledge of print conventions (e.g., left–right, front–back) and concepts (book cover, author, text)”
In a meta-analysis of parent programs for kindergarten to grade 3, the two studies where parents read to their child showed a small effect on early reading skills that could not be told apart from zero.
In the source’s own words“the two studies where parents read to their child produced a small effect size (0.18) that was not different from 0.”
The National Reading Panel describes one study that measured many things at school entry, including parents' reports of reading to their children, and found that sound awareness and letter knowledge were the top predictors of reading.
In the source’s own words“parental reports of reading to children, TV watching, and many more. These researchers examined which of these measures best predicted how well the children would be reading at the end of kindergarten and at the end of 1st grade. Results showed that PA was the top predictor along with letter knowledge.”
We read each of these ourselves on October 9, 2026. Follow the links to read them too.
“Behind in reading” can mean ten different things, and each one needs different help. Check off what is true for your child. You will see the one thing to work on first, and what can wait.