Enhancing the Early Home Learning Environment
What is the most effective way to support parents to create an enriched early home learning environment for their young children?
Evidence shows that parenting is the most important influence on a child’s learning and development. From a very young age, children are affected by the way in which their parents interact with them every day.
The Early Home Learning Study (EHLS) aims to identify the best way to support parents to create a rich home learning environment for their young children from birth to three years.
In late 2009, the Parenting Research Centre was awarded funding by the Victorian Government Department of Education and Early Childhood Development to lead this pioneering study and gather knowledge about how best to support parents to provide a high-quality home-learning environment.
This $8.7 million, three-year study works in partnership with Supported Playgroups and Maternal and Child Health centres across local government areas in Victoria. Seventeen The Early Home Learning Study has now been rolled out across 20 sites around the state.
The study will directly support up to 2000 Victorian families who have children aged 6 to 36 months and who may be facing difficult circumstances.
The study involves the development and randomised controlled trial of an evidence-based parenting intervention. The smalltalk program, currently in the trial phase, seeks to build on existing parenting strengths and targets skills known to promote learning and development, such as quality parent–child interactions, reading together and providing a stimulating environment. It also includes strategies to promote self-care and confidence in parents.
Key achievements
- Research methodology developed and program written
- Ethics approval received in August 2010
- Smalltalk program developed and piloted
- 20 sites across Victoria now operational
- 1000 families attended smalltalk as of October 2011
- 78 staff trained in the smalltalk program across Maternal and Child Health and Supported Playgroup platforms
- Website launched in August 2011
This is a significant project for the PRC and it is making a major contribution to the Victorian and international knowledge base about how to help parents to create a positive early home learning environment for their young children.
