Effects of Introducing the Picture Book Reading Program in Young Children’s Homes

Abstract

This study aimed to encourage picture book reading at home. In our support program, we loaned four picture books (one book a week for four weeks) to 1–5-year-old class children, and asked their parents to read books during the loan period and answer related questionnaires before, during, and after the period. Analysis of their reply revealed that the frequency that parents read picture books to their children before the loan period influenced the frequency of reading picture books and the young children’s responses to picture books during the loan period. In addition, the program increased the frequency of parent–child interaction and children’s interest in picture books after the loan period, while the children’s responses to picture books varied with age.