Unique Contributions of Impulsivity and Inhibition to Prereading Skills in Preschoolers at Head Start (Report‪)‬

The goal of this study was to explore the relationship between temperament (specifically impulsivity and inhibition) and prereading skills (letter knowledge and print concepts) in preschool children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The participants in the study were 111 preschool children with a mean age of 58.09 months (SD = 5.80) attending Head Start. Results from hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that lower levels of impulsivity (consisting of persistence, negative emotionality, and activity-level characteristics) and lower levels of inhibition made unique contributions to higher letter knowledge and print concepts skills. Theoretical implications for early childhood education and directions for future research are highlighted. Keywords: early literacy, emotion regulation, preschool literacy, preschool education