Learning apps at home prepare children for school
The usage of high-quality learning applications (apps) at home may increase children's mathematical and literacy competencies. This approach was tested in a family intervention study. Intervention families (n = 302) in two German cohorts (N = 500; M (SD)<sub>age</sub> = 61.0 (4.6) months; n<sub>♀</sub> = 302) received tablets with newly developed learning apps focusing either on mathematical or literacy learning for every-day usage at home across half a kindergarten year. Compared with two control groups with and without tablets, children in the intervention groups significantly enhanced their specific competencies (η<sup>2</sup> = .03-.10). Higher app usage was associated with greater gains (ΔR<sup>2</sup> = .01-.02). Consequently, an easy-to-apply app-based intervention supports children's development of cognitive competencies and helps prepare them for school.
Authors
- Astrid Wirth (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1126-141X)
- Anna Mues (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8987-5716)
- Frank Niklas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3777-7388)
- Efsun Birtwistle (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6958-5882)
Institutions
- University of Vienna (AT)
- University of Nottingham (GB)
- LMU Klinikum (DE)
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Child Development
- Published
- 2024-10-24
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.14184
- Citations
- 9
- Primary Topic
- Child Development and Digital Technology
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 18.86
Funders
- Horizon 2020 Framework Programme
- H2020 European Research Council