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One Step at a Time: The Effects of an Early Literacy Text-Messaging Program for Parents of Preschoolers

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  • Benjamin N. York
  • Susanna Loeb
  • Christopher Doss

Abstract

Large systematic differences in young children’s home learning experiences have long-term economic consequences. Many parenting programs place significant demands on parents’ time and inundate parents with information. This study evaluates the effects of READY4K!, an eight-month-long text-messaging intervention for parents of preschoolers that targets the behavioral barriers to engaged parenting. We find that READY4K! increased parental involvement at home and school by 0.15 to 0.29 standard deviations, leading to child gains in early literacy of about 0.11 standard deviations. The results point to the salience of behavioral barriers to parenting and the potential for low-cost interventions to reduce these barriers.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin N. York & Susanna Loeb & Christopher Doss, 2019. "One Step at a Time: The Effects of an Early Literacy Text-Messaging Program for Parents of Preschoolers," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 54(3), pages 537-566.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:54:y:2019:i:3:p:537-566
    Note: DOI: 10.3368/jhr.54.3.0517-8756R
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Amaral, Sofia & Dinarte-Diaz, Lelys & Dominguez, Patricio & Perez-Vincent, Santiago M., 2024. "Helping families help themselves: The (Un)intended impacts of a digital parenting program," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    2. Michele Giannola, 2024. "Parental Investments and Intra-household Inequality in Child Human Capital: Evidence from a Survey Experiment," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 134(658), pages 671-727.
    3. Peter Bergman, 2020. "Nudging Technology Use: Descriptive and Experimental Evidence from School Information Systems," Education Finance and Policy, MIT Press, vol. 15(4), pages 623-647, Fall.
    4. Juanita Bloomfield & Ana Balsa & Alejandro Cid, 2023. "Using behavioral insights in early childhood interventions: the effects of Crianza Positiva e-messaging program on parental investment," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 95-130, March.
    5. Hermes, Henning & Lergetporer, Philipp & Peter, Frauke & Wiederhold, Simon, 2021. "Behavioral Barriers and the Socioeconomic Gap in Child Care Enrollment," IZA Discussion Papers 14698, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Maldonado, Joana Elisa & De Witte, Kristof, 2021. "The impact of information provision to parents: Experimental evidence on student outcomes," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 31(C).
    7. Doss, Christopher & Fricke, Hans & Loeb, Susanna & Doromal, Justin B., 2022. "Engaging girls in math: The unequal effects of text messaging to help parents support early math development," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    8. Henning Hermes & Philipp Lergetporer & Frauke Peter & Simon Wiederhold, 2021. "Application Barriers and the Socioeconomic Gap in Child Care Enrollment," CESifo Working Paper Series 9282, CESifo.
    9. Hernández-Agramonte, Juan Manuel & Namen, Olga & Näslund-Hadley, Emma & Biehl, Maria Loreto, 2024. "Supporting early childhood development remotely: Experimental evidence from SMS messages," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    10. Beuchert, Louise & Eriksen, Tine Louise Mundbjerg & Krægpøth, Morten Visby, 2020. "The impact of standardized test feedback in math: Exploiting a natural experiment in 3rd grade," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    11. Simon Calmar Andersen & Ulrik Hvidman, 2020. "Implementing Educational Interventions at Scale," Working Papers 2020-039, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    12. Lebedinski, Lara & Carneiro, Pedro & Urzua, Tamara Arnold & Perng, Julie & Boudet, Ana Maria Munoz & Sosa, Katia Herrera, 2024. "Experimental Impacts of a Virtual Parenting Program with Mothers and Fathers," IZA Discussion Papers 17028, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    13. Annalisa Guarini & Alessandra Sansavini & Chiara Suttora & Stefania Bortolotti & Margherita Fort & Daniela Iorio & Chiara Monfardini & Maria Bigoni, 2022. "Mindful Parenting Intervention MinUTo App for Parents of Preschool Children: Study Protocol of a Randomised Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-16, June.
    14. Esposito Acosta,Bruno Nicola & Sautmann,Anja, 2022. "Adaptive Experiments for Policy Choice : Phone Calls for Home Reading in Kenya," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10098, The World Bank.
    15. Cortes, Kalena E. & Fricke, Hans & Loeb, Susanna & Song, David S. & York, Benjamin N., 2023. "When behavioral barriers are too high or low – How timing matters for text-based parenting interventions," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    16. Blanco, Luisa R. & Hernandez, Isaias & Thames, April D. & Chen, Lucia & Serido, Joyce, 2023. "Mind your money: A community-based digital intervention for improving financial capability among Hispanics," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 629-643.
    17. Meredith Phillips & Sarah J. Reber, 2019. "Does Virtual Advising Increase College Enrollment? Evidence from a Random Assignment College Access Field Experiment," NBER Working Papers 26509, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education

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