Measures of preschool children's interest and engagement in literacy activities: Examining gender differences and construct dimensions

Multiple approaches to measuring preschool children's literacy interest and engagement (i.e., parent-, teacher-, child-reported child literacy interest and observer-reported child literacy engagement) were examined in a sample of 167 four- and five-year-old children (M = 56.62 months, SD = 6.01) enrolled in Head Start. Associations among measures as well as gender differences and dimensions of preschooler's literacy interest and engagement were examined across measures. Measures were not strongly associated. There were small, but significant correlations between parents’ and teachers’ reports of children's literacy interest, and teachers’ reports of children's literacy interest and observers’ reports of children's literacy engagement. Gender differences were found for parent- and teacher-report measures, with teachers and parents rating girls higher on interest. Patterns of factor loadings differed between adult and child measures. Implications of findings are discussed.

► Multiple approaches to measuring preschooler's literacy interest were examined.
► Interest and engagement measures were not strongly inter-correlated.
► Parents and teachers rated girls higher on literacy interest.
► Parent and teacher reports had similar dimensions; child report differed.