Very often parents are dissuaded from buying picture books over vocabulary books. It is a popular belief that the latter has more information and is more educative for children. However, according to a new study, this may not be true. Researchers from the University of Waterloo found that children get access to as much rich information about plants, animals and science from picture books as they do from vocabulary books.
"Marketers tell parents and educators that vocabulary books are more educational, so picture books are often dismissed as being just for fun," said the study's author, Professor Daniela O'Neill in a press statement. "But our findings show that reading picture books with kids exposes them to information about animals in a way that allows children to readily apply this knowledge more broadly. This is key to learning."
For the study, Professor O'Neill recorded 25 women as they read two pictures books including six animals to their kids. In one book, the animal was part of the story that was told through pictures. In the other book, the animal was printed with a blank background, commonly seen in vocabulary books.
Researchers found that all mothers used a special form of language called generics while reading to their children. O'Neill found that the participants used generics as frequently while reading picture books as they did while reading the vocabulary book.
"Generic language tells children about animals in general, not just about one animal. It's the difference between saying 'This giraffe has a long neck' and 'Giraffes have long necks.' In the second case, we are more likely to learn something about all giraffes in general - that they all have long necks," the author of the study said.
Contrary to popular belief, researchers found that moms support stories in picture books with facts about the animals, just like they do while reading a vocabulary book to their kids.
"Our results are significant because they clearly show that books of all kinds can build children's knowledge about the world, including picture book stories," said Professor O'Neill.
A previous study conducted by Shutta Crum found that picture books are not just "quick reads, lots of fun, and often gems of characterization, mood, and dialogue" but are also perfect to illustrate literary techniques to writing students of all ages. Such books can also be used by teachers and parents as a way to introduce children to mathematical concepts.
The study was published in the open access journal Frontiers in Psychology. It was also published as part of a special Research Topic entitled An Open Book: What and How Young Children Learn From Picture and Story Books.
Funding from the study came from a Research Development Initiative grant given by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
