Parental Engagement and Satisfaction in Early Childhood Education: The Mediating Role of Home Literacy Environment

Abstract Parental engagement is widely recognized as a key factor in children’s development and education, with parental satisfaction and the home literacy environment (HLE) contributing to positive educational outcomes. Exploring how these elements interact can enhance our understanding of parental engagement in early childhood education. This study examines the relationships among parental satisfaction, parental engagement, and the HLE, considering the potential moderating role of household income. A path analysis was conducted with a sample of 660 parents (mean age = 33.57 years, SD = 5.06 years) whose children, aged 60–72 months, were enrolled in early childhood education programs in Türkiye. Results indicated that parents’ satisfaction positively influenced both parental engagement and the HLE. The HLE partially mediated the relationship between parents’ satisfaction and parental engagement. Household income moderated the effects of the HLE on parental engagement and between parents’ satisfaction and the HLE for certain income groups. Variations in parental engagement and the HLE were observed across different income levels. These findings highlight the importance of parents’ satisfaction and the HLE in shaping parental engagement in early childhood education, with implications for educators, administrators, parents, and curriculum developers.