Mothers helping their preschool children to spell words: A comparison between interactions using the computer vs. pencil and paper

Computers can serve as useful tools in developing children’s literacy. The study compared the nature of mother–child interactions spelling words using a computer vs. pencil and paper and explored whether mothers have a consistent mediation style beyond the writing tool. We videotaped 49 preschoolers and their mothers in their homes, spelling an eight-item shopping list, half of the words using a pencil and half using a computer. We coded the interactions, and compared between them while controlling for the child’s spelling level. The results show that mothers supported their children somewhat differently based on the writing tool. When using the computer, mothers supported their children through a more complete cognitive spelling process and gave them more independence. When using the pencil, mothers were more willing to ignore errors and entered into their child’s space more frequently. Beyond these differences, we found support for some consistency in the mothers’ mediation across the two writing tools. When given a choice of tools to spell a word, children preferred the computer. We call for raising parents’ and teachers’ awareness of the opportunities that the computer offers for joint writing and early literacy activities with children as a complement to traditional early literacy support.