Increasing Caregivers' Adherence to an Early-Literacy Intervention Improves the Print Knowledge of Children with Language Impairment.

Researchers worked with the preschoolers who had language delays. Each child got a 15-week early-literacy program at home.

Half the caregivers earned 50 cents each time they finished a lesson. The other half got praise only. The team tracked how many lessons parents did and how much print knowledge kids gained.

Parents who earned the coins completed a large share more lessons. Their kids scored twice as high on print-knowledge tests.

The tiny reward did not go straight to the child. It pushed parents to stick to the plan, and that lifted child skills.

Wolchik et al. (1982) ran a parent lottery for language homework. Three families earned tickets when kids hit goals. The 2018 RCT shows the same idea works at scale.

Conine et al. (2025) trained caregivers with BST to teach response-to-name. They also had to keep rewards coming or gains faded. Both papers say ongoing reinforcement keeps parents on track.

Wehman et al. (2014) asked what happens if you simply give more lessons. Extra sessions helped, but the 2018 study proves a cheaper lever: reward the adult, not the clock.

You can lift child outcomes without adding minutes. Tape a penny chart on the fridge. Hand mom or dad a token right after each lesson. The cost is pocket change, but adherence and child print skills can double. Try it next time you send home any parent-run program.