How and When Does Early Home Learning Environment Improve Children’s Kindergarten Academic Skills? The Roles of Language Ability and Self-Control

Abstract

ABSTRACT Children’s academic skills, particularly in the early stages of life, are significantly shaped by the support and resources available in their home learning environments. However, the underlying mechanisms by which the home learning environment influences children’s academic skills are not fully understood. To address this gap, the present study used multiple regression analysis to explore how the family environment of U.S. children (N = 805) at 36 months old affected their academic skills at 5 years old. The result showed that children’s language ability may potentially serve as a mediating mechanism that links the home learning environment and children’s early academic skills. Furthermore, the study suggests that children’s self-control provides an important mechanism that moderates the relationship between the home learning environment and children’s language ability. The findings provide compelling new insights into how and when the home learning environment affects children’s early-stage academic skills.