Language Interactions between Parent and Child During a Shared Reading Storytime

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the language interactions between a parent and child during a shared reading storytime. Children from a Head Start program were videotaped with a parent "reading" a wordless picture book. Transcripts were taken from these videos and the language between the parent and the child was examined. Positive and negative interactions were noted, as well as child initiated and parent initiated interactions. The data were analyzed and implications for further research and classroom practice were discussed.