“Let’s Write Each Other Messages”: Association Between Involvement in Writing in a Preschool Online Forum and Early Literacy Progress

Research Findings: The study examined the association between the amount of preschoolers’ (N = 174, M = 5.5 years old) writing in online forums with their parents’ support and their progress in early literacy skills and interest in literacy. Parents participated in a workshop about writing development, the importance of writing activities, and effective ways to support children’s writing. The researchers created an internet forum in each preschool. Parents were asked to help their children write posts and respond to friends’ posts in the forum for ten weeks (twice a week). We evaluated children’s early literacy skills (letter knowledge, phonological awareness, word spelling, and vocabulary) and interest in literacy before and after the initiative and children’s self-regulation before the initiative. The results showed that while, on average, children’s participation in the forum was lower than expected, participation levels were significantly associated with the children’s progress in early literacy skills and interest in literacy, controlling for demographic variables, self-regulation, and the children’s initial literacy skills. Practice or Policy: Our study suggests considering digital writing as an additional writing tool for preschoolers. Further, it highlights the potential of online writing forums for practicing writing and promoting young children’s early literacy skills.