ERIC Number: EJ1341406
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 26
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1040-9289
EISSN: EISSN-1556-6935
Available Date: N/A
Home Language Environment and Executive Functions in Mexican American and Chinese American Preschoolers in Head Start
Haft, Stephanie L.; Gys, Christopher L.; Bunge, Silvia; Uchikoshi, Yuuko; Zhou, Qing
Early Education and Development, v33 n4 p608-633 2022
Research Findings: Using two groups of dual language learners (DLLs), the current study examined links between two developmental constructs closely linked to school readiness: the home language environment (HLE) and executive function (EF). In a sample of 90 children (age range = 38-70 months, 59% girls) from either Mexican American (MA, N = 46) or Chinese American (CA, N = 44) low-income families enrolled in Head Start preschool programs, parents reported on their HLE (home language balance, home English/heritage language activities) and children's EF (inhibitory control and attention shifting) was measured by cognitive tasks. Findings showed preschool-aged DLLs in low-income immigrant families received more heritage language exposure relative to English language exposure at home. Several demographic variables (parental education, per capita income, DLL group, child age of English acquisition, child generation, child English receptive vocabulary) were related to various aspects of HLE. Controlling for covariates, the amount of heritage language activities at home was uniquely and positively related to children's attention shifting. Practice or Policy: The findings underscore the importance of incorporating language background considerations when designing intervention programs that target HLE and EF in low-income DLLs.
Descriptors: Mexican Americans, Chinese Americans, Preschool Children, Preschool Education, Disadvantaged Youth, English Language Learners, English (Second Language), Low Income Groups, Immigrants, Native Language, Family Environment, Student Characteristics, Correlation, Attention, Executive Function, Language Usage, Spanish Speaking, Chinese
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Preschool Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Institutes of Health (NIH) (DHHS)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: California (San Francisco)
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test
Grant or Contract Numbers: R01HD091154
Author Affiliations: N/A