Does the amount of time children spend reading have an impact on their comprehension skills?
Yes. A large-scale statistical review of 99 different research studies found that the amount of leisure time children spent reading or being read to is a powerful predictor of comprehension (and other critical literacy skills such as word recognition, spelling, and vocabulary skills). Reading to young children and helping them to develop positive attitudes to reading can develop a habit that will enable them to develop literacy-related skills and to acquire knowledge throughout their lifetime. To learn more about this, see the factors associated with good comprehension pages in the Background and Research section of this Pathway.
Related Background Questions
- What is reading comprehension and why is it important?
- How is word reading related to reading comprehension?
- What are some of the challenges to good reading comprehension?
- What are the factors associated with good comprehension?
- Why is vocabulary development important for comprehension?
- How can reading comprehension best be taught?
- Is there a difference between reading on screen and reading on paper in terms of comprehension?
- What does the Curriculum for Excellence say about comprehension?
- How is reading comprehension assessed in Scotland?