To expand our understanding of script-general and script-specific principles in the learning of letter names, we examined how three characteristics of alphabet letters -- their frequency in printed materials, order in the alphabet, and visual similarity to other letters -- relate to children's letter-name knowledge in four languages with three…

This meta-analysis examines to what extent interactive storybook reading stimulates two pillars of learning to read: vocabulary and print knowledge. The authors quantitatively reviewed 31 (quasi) experiments (n = 2,049 children) in which educators were trained to encourage children to be actively involved before, during, and after joint book…

Musical play is part of children's culture. They sing and dance in rhythmic and pitched patterns alone, together, and with toys, household items, and yard objects. There are, however, cultural variations in how children participate in musical play and at what ages they are expected to play in certain ways. As guardians of children's musical…