The nature of parent-child talk during the sharing of science trade books at home

This study examined the interactions between parents and their typically developing fourth grade children as they shared science trade books together at home. The aim of this research was to understand how parents and children make meaning together in this context and how parent-child talk related to children's developing scientific views. Four parent-child dyads ranging in information book sharing experiences were videotaped once a week for three weeks in their home during the reading of three science trade books. Both parents and children were interviewed about their interactive experiences following each reading. Parent-child talk was captured and characterized using an analytic framework for discourse, along with a typology of intertextuality and interview data. The results of this research provide preliminary evidence of the capacity of parent-child talk in the context of science books at home to support both children's inquiry skills and their active participation in their sense making behaviors, both of which are integral to their scientific literacy development. The present investigation provides tentative evidence of how parent-child talk about science books can support children's developing social language of science, as well as encourage the practice of science process skills. The results of this study shed light on the importance of older readers' continued access and experiences with science books, and the potential of parent-child talk about science books at home to positively influence children's developing scientific literacy. Keywords: parent-child tally sharing science books, inquiry, scientific literacy.