Early literacy is a process that takes place throughout the preschool period and in which four communicative abilities intertwine: listening, speaking, writing, and reading. Reading positively influences the child’s overall development. It encourages the development of imagination, linguistic and intellectual development, development of empathy, and a rich vocabulary. Parents play an important role in early literacy, as their opinions, habits, and attitude towards reading influence the child’s future attitude towards the book early on.
The bachelor thesis entitled Parents’ opinions on reading with a child in the preschool period consists of a theoretical and empirical part.
The theoretical part focused on literacy and types of literacy. It presented the details of reading, the role and influence of reading on the child’s development, how, how much, and what to read to preschool children, the role of parents, and activities that compete with reading. At the end, a few ways of encouraging reading and projects doing so in Slovenia were presented.
The empirical part presented the results of a survey given to parents of two kindergartens. The goal was to discover their opinions on the importance of reading in the preschool period, the frequency and quality of reading, the process of reading in the home environment, the choice of literature, and whether they present a positive example with the books they read.
The study showed that parents are aware of the positive influence of reading on the child’s intellectual development and the importance of reading to preschool children. Parents most often start reading to the child after birth or at the age of one. Most parents read to children occasionally, for at least 10 minutes, most frequently in the evening before sleep. When reading the content, they use emphases and intonation, and most of them talk to children during reading and occasionally ask them questions. Literature selection is done together with the child, and children mostly find reading to be a pleasurable activity. Regarding the results of the books they read throughout the year, parents present a positive example to their children.
|