Exploring Parent-Child Shared Reading Practices with Preschoolers Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Pandemic
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By
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Kwanghee Jung
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W. Steven Barnett
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August 31, 2026
Clinical Report: Exploring Parent-Child Shared Reading Practices with Preschoolers
Overview
This study evaluates patterns of parent-reported shared reading among preschool-aged children in the US during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings indicate a significant decrease in reading frequency, particularly among Hispanic children.
Background
Shared book reading is crucial for early language, literacy, cognitive, and socioemotional development in preschoolers. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted educational routines, potentially impacting children's readiness for school. Understanding changes in shared reading practices during this period is essential.
Data Highlights
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Percentage of parents reading to children at least 3 times weekly (Spring 2020) | 82.5% |
| Odds ratio for frequent reading among Hispanic children | 0.61 |
| Odds ratio for frequent reading associated with parental education | 1.37 |
| Odds ratio for frequent reading with every additional 10 physical books | 1.08 |
Key Findings
- Frequent reading decreased from 82.5% in Spring 2020 to lower levels through 2024.
- Hispanic children showed significantly lower odds of frequent reading compared to non-Hispanic White children (OR, 0.61).
- Parental education and household income were positively associated with frequent reading (OR, 1.37 and OR, 1.14, respectively).
- Single-parent households had reduced odds of frequent reading (OR, 0.69).
- Access to physical books was linked to higher odds of frequent reading, while eBooks did not show a significant association.
Clinical Implications
Clinicians should be aware of the disparities in shared reading practices among preschoolers, particularly in relation to socioeconomic factors.
Conclusion
The study highlights a decline in parent-child shared reading during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Related Resources & Content
- American Academy of Pediatrics, Pediatrics, 2024 -- Literacy Promotion: An Essential Component of Primary Care Pediatric Practice
- Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2026 -- Shared reading is associated with fewer emotional/behavioral problems and better prosocial behavior in preschool children: a cross-sectional study in western China
- BMJ Paediatrics Open, 2026 -- Health promotion through reading in the first thousand days: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- eyecare business — The Return. of. Joy.
- BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth — Feeding practices of perinatal Sars-CoV-2-positive parents and their infants: a retrospective review and survey at a large US hospital system
- Frontiers in Pediatrics — Epidemiological characteristics of childhood infectious diseases at Qingyang maternal and child health care hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic and the post-pandemic period
- Literacy Promotion: An Essential Component of Primary Care Pediatric Practice: Policy Statement | Pediatrics | American Academy of Pediatrics
- Health promotion through reading in the first thousand days: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- PEDS2024069091_proof.pdf
Based on findings from:
Parent-Child Shared Book Reading With Preschoolers During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic
Kwanghee Jung, W. Steven Barnett. Jama Network Open, 2026.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2853467
This content is an AI-generated, fully rewritten summary based on a published scholarly article. It does not reproduce the original text and is not a substitute for the original publication. Readers are encouraged to consult the source for full context, data, and methodology.
