Joint book reading, library visits and letter teaching in families: relations to parent education and children’s reading behavior

Abstract In line with the Matthew-effect in reading, reading comprehension and leisure time tend to be reciprocally related. Whereas prior research invested much efforts identification description of variables explaining individual differences comprehension, less were spend on exploration important for development reading. This study focuses family literacy activities preschool age – joint book library visits, teaching letters how these relate children’ s later comprehension. Furthermore, role parents’ education is considered. Empirical findings are based a sample N = 1.242 children from National Education Panel Study (NEPS). Joint visits families, both aspects informal activities, predicted Grade 4, which was related their addition, disparities regard found. The results discussed against background ways promote children’s practical implications derived.