Reach Out and Read Arabic to Promote Arabic Literacy in Toddlers

NCT ID: NCT03847675

Last Updated: 2023-02-08

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: TERMINATED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 20 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2018-11-01
• Study Completion Date: 2022-07-30

Brief Summary

The goal of this study is to encourage parents to read Arabic books to their children from an early age and by extension children will be more likely to read Arabic books and ultimately improve their Arabic literacy.

The investigators' hypothesis is that an adapted "Reach Out and Read" program will result in an increase in the proportion of parents reading Arabic books to their children after the intervention.

Detailed Description

Early reading for toddlers has been linked to a better grasp of the fundamentals of language as they approach school age, as reading exposes the child to rich language and diverse content. Reach Out and Read program (ROR) is an American non-profit organization that advocates for childhood literacy.

In this study the investigators aim to implement an adapted version of the "Reach Out and Read" program and to encourage parents to read Arabic books to their children in order for this to become a daily habit. The goal of this study is to see an increase in the proportion of parents who read Arabic books to their children and by extension children will grow up loving to read Arabic books and ultimately may have improved Arabic literacy.

Conditions

Child Development

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
• Blinding Strategy: TRIPLE

Study Groups

Intervention

The research assistant introduces the adapted 'Reach out and Read" program and informs participants about the benefits of reading to children at an early age. A 4:50 minutes video clip would be shown during the initial visit. This video discusses the benefits of reading displaying practical tips for parents; it includes tips on how to read, pointing at the words.

A schematic pamphlet highlighting the importance of reading Arabic to children and the impact of such reading on children's brain development, vocabulary acquisition and behavior in addition to the impact on the parent child bond and relationship is given to the parents.

After each visit participants will receive an age appropriate book for their child.

Focus groups will be conducted by a qualitative researcher

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Reach out and Read

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The intervention group will be viewing a video encouraging to read to their children and giving tips on reading methods, in addition will be given a schematic pamphlet highlighting the importance of reading Arabic to children.

After each visit participants will receive an age appropriate book for their child (a total of 3 books). The first book consist of popular nursery rhymes that are usually sung for younger infants. The choice of the 2 other books is based on recommendations from an early child educator according to age specificity.

Focus group conducted by a qualitative researcher will follow the protocol reported by Richard A. Krueger.

Control

The research assistant gives routine advice on child development including importance of reading and advice on nutrition and safety and gives parents a leaflet about early child development and complementary feeding

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Reach out and Read

The intervention group will be viewing a video encouraging to read to their children and giving tips on reading methods, in addition will be given a schematic pamphlet highlighting the importance of reading Arabic to children.

After each visit participants will receive an age appropriate book for their child (a total of 3 books). The first book consist of popular nursery rhymes that are usually sung for younger infants. The choice of the 2 other books is based on recommendations from an early child educator according to age specificity.

Focus group conducted by a qualitative researcher will follow the protocol reported by Richard A. Krueger.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Parents must identify the study's settings as the usual site for their child regular checkups
• Families are eligible if at least one parent understands, speaks and reads Arabic.
• The child's age between 4 and 6 months at the time of the enrollment

Exclusion Criteria

• Children diagnosed or displaying severe behavioral, cognitive, or physical impairment, that prevents them in meaningfully engaging in a reading activity example: severe autism, profound developmental or intellectual delay.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 4 Months
• Maximum Eligible Age: 6 Months
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

American University of Beirut Medical Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Lama Charafeddine

Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Neonatology

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Lama Charafeddine, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

American University of Beirut Medical Center

Locations

American University of Beirut

Beirut, , Lebanon

Countries

Lebanon

References

Duursma E, Augustyn M, Zuckerman B. Reading aloud to children: the evidence. Arch Dis Child. 2008 Jul;93(7):554-7. doi: 10.1136/adc.2006.106336. Epub 2008 May 13. No abstract available.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 18477693 (View on PubMed)

Kuhl PK. Early Language Learning and Literacy: Neuroscience Implications for Education. Mind Brain Educ. 2011 Sep;5(3):128-142. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-228X.2011.01121.x.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 21892359 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

PED.LC.13

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id