Digital Literacy Promotion

This study has three main objectives. The first is to test the effects of digital versus standard literacy promotion by way of a randomized controlled trial design. The second aim is to explore the reading behaviors and reading activities between parents and their infants when comparing the use of e-books to standard board books. The third aim is to identify themes regarding dialogical reading behaviors among parents participating in the video sub-study. Participants will be stratified by clinic site and randomized to receive literacy promotion using 1) standard early reader board books or 2) digital electronic early reader e-books. We will recruit and consent one hundred eligible parent-infant dyads, with the infant being between 5 and 7 months of age at enrollment. In this intervention, parent-infant dyads randomized to the digital arm will receive developmentally appropriate e-books. Those randomized to the standard arm will receive developmentally appropriate board books. Participants will receive either the e-book or board book at the time of their 6, 9 and 12 month well visits. In addition to the books, parent-infant dyads in both arms will be provided information on the importance of early parent-child reading activity by pediatric clinicians using the Reach Out and Read framework. The main outcome will be differences in Bayley-3 Composite scores between groups. Secondary aims include differences in StimQ Reading Subscale Scores and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale Scores between groups.