Association between home literacy environment and eye movements during storybook reading: Implications for vocabulary and word reading in Chinese preschoolers

This study explored the impact of different components of the Home Literacy Environment (HLE) —stimulation to use language, reading books and cultural engagement, joint activities and conversation, interactive reading, and zone-of-proximal development stimulation—on Chinese preschoolers' eye movements during storybook reading. Eighty-seven children aged 4–6 were assessed for vocabulary and word reading skills, while their eye movements were tracked during storybook reading. Their parents completed a questionnaire on personal background and frequency of HLE activities. The results showed that interactive reading was the only HLE component significantly associated with children's attention to words and word reading. Additionally, attention to words during reading was linked to vocabulary and word reading, with the influence of interactive reading on word reading mediated by attention to words. These findings emphasize the differential contributions of HLE components and suggest that cultural context plays a crucial role in shaping the effectiveness of specific aspects of the home literacy environment in promoting children's reading abilities.