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Miller P, Betancur L, Coulanges L, Kammerzell J, Libertus M, Bachman HJ, Votruba-Drzal E. Time spent playing predicts early reading and math skills through associations with self-regulation. J Appl Dev Psychol 2022; 83:101470. [PMID: 38037616 PMCID: PMC10688615 DOI: 10.1016/j.appdev.2022.101470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Children's play time has declined in recent decades, which could negatively impact early self-regulation-a vital component of school readiness. To date, studies have not fully explored how the time spent playing relates to children's self-regulatory skills, and in turn, their early reading and math competencies. Using data from time diaries and direct assessments of self-regulation, prereading, and math skills, this study examined how minutes spent playing at home predict these skills in a sample of 128 children followed from age four to five. Additionally, it considered whether self-regulation explained links between play time and prereading and math. Results showed that the time spent playing positively related to children's self-regulation. Moreover, through its association with self-regulation, play time had indirect effects on prereading and math skills measured one year later. Results suggest that fostering opportunities for play time during the preschool years may help to boost school readiness skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Portia Miller
- Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, United States
| | - Laura Betancur
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, 210 South Bouquet Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, United States
| | - Linsah Coulanges
- Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, United States
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, 210 South Bouquet Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, United States
| | - Juliana Kammerzell
- University of Michigan School of Social Work, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Melissa Libertus
- Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, United States
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, 210 South Bouquet Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, United States
| | - Heather J Bachman
- Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, United States
- Department of Health and Human Development, University of Pittsburgh, 230 South Bouquet Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, United States
| | - Elizabeth Votruba-Drzal
- Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, United States
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, 210 South Bouquet Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, United States
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