Mothers' Reading with Their Children: Maternal Verbal Interaction Style and Children's Reading Ability

책읽기 활동에서의 어머니의 언어적 상호작용 형태와 유아의 읽기 능력

Three levels(high, medium, low) of maternal language were used to examine the ways in which mothers interact with their children while reading together. Eighty pairs of mothers and their children were observed in their homes. Findings were that mothers made increased use of high level language with increase in children's age and IQ. Mothers' use of high level language was greater for 6-year-olds than for 5-year-olds and use of low level language was greater for 5-year-olds than for 6-year-olds. The more educated mothers used a higher level of language while less educated mothers used a lower level of language. Mothers' use of low level language predicted lower reading ability in children.