Parental Involvement and Children's Language Development: A Foundation for Early Learning Success

Parental involvement in home-based language learning activities plays a crucial role in supporting young children’s early language development. This study was conducted to identify the level of parental involvement and to examine the relationship between parental involvement and children’s language development in the district of Sabak Bernam, Selangor. A quantitative approach with a correlational research design was employed in this study. A total of 190 parents with children aged between 4 and 6 years were selected as respondents through convenience sampling. The research instrument consisted of a structured questionnaire divided into three sections: respondents’ demographic information, the level of parental involvement, and children’s language development. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 31.0 through descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis. The findings revealed that the level of parental involvement was high, with a high overall mean score. The results also indicated that children’s language development was at a good level in terms of vocabulary acquisition, speaking skills, language comprehension, and communication confidence. Pearson correlation analysis showed a significant positive relationship between parental involvement and children’s language development (r = 0.721, p < 0.05). These findings suggest that higher levels of parental involvement in language-related learning activities at home are associated with better language development among children. The study provides important implications for parents, educators, and educational policymakers regarding the significance of collaboration between families and educational institutions in strengthening early language development. Therefore, efforts to enhance parental awareness and involvement in language-related activities at home should be intensified to ensure the holistic development of children’s language abilities.

parental involvement, language development, children, early childhood education, communication, preschool.

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