The role of the home in children’s critical reading skills development

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the specific home environment factors that were judged to support or hinder the development of children’s critical reading skills. Using a Delphi method, 32 experts in Finland listed a set of home-related factors that can either hinder or support the development of children’s critical reading skills. The experts then evaluated and ranked the factors according to their perceived importance. A large set of home-related factors was produced. Out of these, we identified 13 supportive and nine hindering factors. The factors highlighted the importance of having a space for the child to be heard and involved in family discussions, having a space for differing viewpoints and critical thinking, parental competencies to support critical reading skills, and positive parental attitudes towards schooling and learning. The findings can be used for measurement and intervention development purposes.