Preparing Pre-schoolers for Reading and Mathematics: Creating a Home Environment for Preschool Learning

The combination of building reading and mathematics language skills prior to entry into kindergarten
can positively impact children’s ability to make sense of representations in both areas. Four families
volunteered to participate in this field- based study to learn how to integrate reading and mathematics
in parent and child learning activities. Four parents and their preschool-aged children together
attended training sessions to learn and practice the implementation of a home environment
supportive of both reading and mathematics. Each parent completed questionnaires about
implementation of the four training sessions with their child. Parent responses were overwhelmingly
positive regarding the suggested behaviors for creating a pro-reading/mathematics home
environment. Parents reported that the reading and mathematics home instruction activities gave
children learning opportunities from combining early mathematics skills and reading skills and they
also learned new vocabulary. Home learning activities also helped children learn effortful control skills
when reading and talking about mathematics storybooks. There was also rapport building through
family conversations that were attributed to parents’ use of instructional activities.