To Home Literacy and Beyond

Abstract

The home is the first environment in which children's earliest learning and development takes place. Researchers have typically focused on the home literacy environment (HLE) to explain activities parents engage in that support children's literacy and language development. More recently, the home mathematics environment (HME) has gained more attention following the HLE. However, with more research emphasizing children's executive function (EF) skills for later academic success and encouraging science education for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) occupations, two more domain-specific home learning environments have emerged: the HEFE (Home EF Environment) and the HSE (Home Science Environment). The focus of this chapter is on delineating the interconnectedness and distinctness of these four domain-specific home learning environments, their relatedness to child outcomes, and identifying important future directions. The chapter ends with future directions and recommendations for the field to continue working to conceptualize the home learning environment.