Order in the House! Associations among Household Chaos, the Home Literacy Environment, Maternal Reading Ability, and Children’s Early Reading

Anna D. Johnson, Anne Martin, Jeanne Brooks-Gunn, Stephen A. Petrill

The study examines whether associations exist between household chaos and children’s early reading skills. Results suggest that the degree of household order is significantly and positively associated with early reading skills among children whose mothers are of above-average reading ability. These results are important in exploring the potential for new approaches to encouraging literacy development in the home.

• Press Release
• Short Summary
• Full Article: Johnson, A., Martin, A., Brooks-Gunn, J., & Petrill, S. (2008). Order in the house! Associations among household chaos, the home literacy environment, maternal reading ability, and children's early reading. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, October 2008, Vol. 54, No.4, pp. 445-472.
• Press Coverage

Authors: Anna D. Johnson, National Center for Children and Families, Teachers College; Anne Martin, National Center for Children and Families, Teachers College; Jeanne Brooks-Gunn, Teachers College and College of Physicians and Surgeons; Stephen A. Petrill, Ohio State University, Department of Human Development and Family Science.