Initial characterization of print awareness in unhoused children

Anne Hoffmann; Lauren Little; Kristen Vincent; Karen Lui; Laura Pabalan

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1274777

Initial characterization of print awareness in unhoused children

Front Psychol. 2024 Feb 12:14:1274777. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1274777. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Anne Hoffmann^{1

2}, Lauren Little^{2

3}, Kristen Vincent^{1

4}, Karen Lui², Laura Pabalan²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States.
² Department of Pediatrics, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States.
³ Department of Occupational Therapy, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States.

Abstract

This study provides an initial understanding of print awareness, a foundational literacy skill, in a group of 12 unhoused children at two shelters in a large urban setting. Children ranged in age from 4;1 to 8;0, representing grades associated with learning to read (i.e., pre-kindergarten to second grade). Findings indicate that the majority of children in this sample were significantly delayed in their acquisition of print awareness skills. Caregivers were surveyed regarding their beliefs about supporting literacy development and what would be beneficial for helping them in this area. Responses indicated that almost all caregivers believed that some literacy development should occur outside of the school setting and that it would be helpful if they (the caregivers) were taught both what skills to teach and how to teach them.

Keywords: homelessness; literacy; print awareness; school readiness; unhoused children.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This research was funded by the Rush University Medical Center Presidential Collaborative Research Award.