© 2016 Joseph Sparling
Abecedarian Approach
Joseph Sparling Professor, Melbourne Graduate School of Education
University of Melbourne
Senior Scientist Emeritus, FPG Child Development Institute
University of North Carolina
© 2016 Joseph Sparling
Abecedarian Approach
The Abecedarian Approach has been
scientifically studied for over 35 years
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Abecedarian Group
Control Group
© 2016 Joseph Sparling
Abecedarian Approach Educational attainment:
percent university graduation by age 30
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Experimental
Campbell et al., (2012). Developmental Psychology.
© 2016 Joseph Sparling
Abecedarian Approach
JOINT ATTENTION is one of the key concepts of the Abecedarian Approach
Joint attention
begins early!
Theoretical basis of the Abecedarian
Approach
© 2016 Joseph Sparling
Abecedarian Approach Joint attention skills appear to be critical to early
social, cognitive and language development
• In 14- to 17-month-olds, one type of joint attention
skill, the tendency to follow the gaze and pointing of
an adult, was a significant predictor of receptive
language development
• Responding to the joint attention bids of others
(gaze shift, pointing, and vocalizing) across the first
and second year is related to subsequent
vocabulary acquisition.
Morales, et al. 2000. Jour. of Applied Devel. Psych.
Studies at the University of Miami:
© 2016 Joseph Sparling
Abecedarian Approach
…increases adult-child joint attention
3N strategy supports joint attention
• Educators and parents can
use 3N to make sure they
coordinate their attention
with the child’s
• Then they can sometimes
gently direct the child’s
attention
© 2016 Joseph Sparling
Abecedarian Approach
© 2016 Joseph Sparling
Abecedarian Approach The 3N strategy keeps “going around”
The 3 parts of the strategy can be used in an ongoing cycle, with many repetitions of the cycle during any single teaching/caring event
Español: Notar, Invitar, Narrar
© 2016 Joseph Sparling
Abecedarian Approach 3N animation
Animated video courtesy of the Northern Territory Government, NT, Australia
© 2016 Joseph Sparling
Abecedarian Approach
Say
Show
See
The 3S strategy supports joint attention
Mencionar
Mostrar
Mirar
3S en español = 3M
© 2016 Joseph Sparling
Abecedarian Approach Use these 3 levels of child response
like stair steps
see
show
say
© 2016 Joseph Sparling
Abecedarian Approach What processes do the 3 levels represent?
input
production
comprehension
see
show
say
© 2016 Joseph Sparling
Abecedarian Approach Using joint attention and 3S during book
reading is like a “conversation”
It goes back and forth…
You do
something
You do
something
The child does
something
The child does
something
© 2016 Joseph Sparling
Abecedarian Approach Why is joint attention important?
• One of the of the most frequent things that the young
child does in effective early educational experiences is
to coordinate his or her attention with the adult’s.
• A high percent of later learning difficulties in school are
the result of problems of attention.
© 2016 Joseph Sparling
Abecedarian Approach The 3S strategy supports joint attention
At first you coordinate your
attention with the child’s.
Then you gently draw the
child’s attention to where yours
is focused.
© 2016 Joseph Sparling
Abecedarian Approach
In the following videos, notice how the adult watches
the child to get information on what he is attending to
In the Abecedarian Approach, adults notice
where the child’s attention is focused
© 2016 Joseph Sparling
Abecedarian Approach
Joint attention:
At first follow the
child’s lead –
match your
attention to his.
Later, see if the
child will follow
your lead and
match his
attention to yours.
Joint attention: Canada
© 2016 Joseph Sparling
Abecedarian Approach
Chinese
father
joins his
attention
to the
child’s
Joint attention: China
© 2016 Joseph Sparling
Abecedarian Approach 3S animation
Video courtesy of the Northern Territory Government, NT, Australia
© 2016 Joseph Sparling
Abecedarian Approach 3C strategy supports joint attention
3C Strategy
Each routine or activity has CARE, CONNECTION, and CONTENT
+
Enriched Caregiving
= +
CARE CUIDADOS
CONTENT CONTENIDO
CONNECTION CONEXIÓN
© 2016 Joseph Sparling
Abecedarian Approach The 3C strategy
• Usually, there is no need for
specific materials.
• Child are always learning,
whether we intend to teach or
not.
…integrates learning into the child’s daily
routines and activities
• Learning is more natural and has a context.
• Opportunities occur throughout the day – no extra time
needed.
© 2016 Joseph Sparling
Abecedarian Approach Caregiving routines
Happens in care
events of the day
• Changing Nappies & Toileting
• Eating & Mealtimes
• Sleeping & Nap time
• Getting Dressed & Undressed
• Putting Away Toys and other Things
Contains
educational content
• Colors
• Counting
• Sizes
• Shapes
• Processes
• Emotions
• Rhyming
• Vocabulary
© 2016 Joseph Sparling
Abecedarian Approach
• Joint attention
during a caregiving
routine
• This example has
uses the 3C
strategy
• It employs joint
attention
© 2016 Joseph Sparling
Abecedarian Approach
Do the child and
adult attend to
the same toy?
Does the child
hear the toys
being counted?
Does she hear
the name of
each toy as she
picks it up or
puts in the
basket?
Joint attention during Enriched Caregiving
© 2016 Joseph Sparling
Abecedarian Approach Abecedarian home visiting in
India, Pakistan, and Zambia
Model-adjusted Bayley MDI scores by family resources and intervention
Bann, Wallander, Do et al. (2016). Pediatrics.
© 2016 Joseph Sparling
Abecedarian Approach Massachusetts Family Day Care Study
We believe these adult behaviors in the
Abecedarian Approach were supporting
joint attention.
ACF. (2010). Massachusetts Family Child Care Study.