Executive functioning and word reading in Hong Kong Chinese children: A 1-year longitudinal perspective |
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| Authors: | Wing Kai Fung Kevin Kien Hoa Chung Chun Bun Lam |
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| Institution: | Department of Early Childhood Education and Centre for Child and Family Science, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong |
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| Abstract: | This study examined the bidirectionality between kindergarten children's executive functioning (EF) and word reading across two time points. Participants were 523 Hong Kong Chinese-speaking children (mean age at Time 2 = 64.59 months; 52.9% male) and their parents. At Time 1, children were administered the measures of EF skills: inhibitory control, attention shifting, working memory and Chinese word reading. They were reassessed with these measures at Time 2 one year later. Results from the cross-lagged panel model revealed that, controlling for child age, gender and parental education levels, children's word reading at Time 1 was significantly predictive of their working memory at Time 2, but that the three EF skills at Time 1 were not predictive of word reading at Time 2. These findings underscored the role of early word reading in promoting children's working memory. |
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| Keywords: | bidirectionality executive functioning Chinese word reading kindergarten children |
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