One Step at a Time: The Effects of an Early Literacy Text Messaging Program for Parents of Preschoolers

Authors
Ben York,
Susanna Loeb,
Christopher Doss
Year of publication
2018
Publication
Journal of Human Resources
Volume/Issue
53(4)

Large systematic differences in young children’s home learning experiences have long-term economic consequences. Many parenting programs place significant demands on parents’ time and inundate parents with information. This study evaluates the effects of READY4K!, an eight-month-long text-messaging intervention for parents of preschoolers that targets the behavioral barriers to engaged parenting. We find that READY4K! increased parental involvement at home and school by 0.15 to 0.29 standard deviations, leading to child gains in early literacy of about 0.11 standard deviations. The results point to the salience of behavioral barriers to parenting and the potential for low-cost interventions to reduce these barriers.

Project(s)

Suggested Citation

York, B., Loeb, S., & Doss, C. (2018). One Step at a Time: The Effects of an Early Literacy Text Messaging Program for Parents of Preschoolers. Journal of Human Resources, 53(4)