However, literacy
difficulties are common and can be
persistent, impacting not only on school experience,
academic achievement and later life choices, but also on many practical issues of daily living.
Aggressive behaviour Conflict with peers and / or
difficulty making and keeping friends Social withdrawal Tantrums and excessive / intense emotional upsets Low mood or
persistent sadness Frequent stomachaches, headaches or other physical complaints School refusal Reduced
academic functioning and / or significant upset at school Excessive accommodation by parents Increased family stress
For example, compared to older mothers, teen mothers display lower levels of verbal stimulation and involvement, higher levels of intrusiveness, and maternal speech that is less varied and complex.47, 48 Mothers with fewer years of education read to their children less frequently25, 49 and demonstrate less sophisticated language and literacy skills themselves, 50 which affects the quantity and quality of their verbal interactions with their children.2 Parental education, in turn, relates to household income: poverty and
persistent poverty are strongly associated with less stimulating home environments, 51 and parents living in poverty have children who are at risk for cognitive,
academic, and social - emotional
difficulties.52, 53 Finally, Hispanic and African American mothers are, on average, less likely to read to their children than White, non-Hispanic mothers; 54 and Spanish - speaking Hispanic families have fewer children's books available in the home as compared to their non-Hispanic counterparts.25 These racial and ethnic findings are likely explained by differences in family resources across groups, as minority status is often associated with various social - demographic risks.