Tips·by·Text is an innovative texting program which supports parents and caregivers in creating positive educational environments and building social-emotional skills. Recognizing that home learning experiences affect children, our research program seeks to identify barriers to beneficial parenting and caregiving, and to develop, test, and refine interventions for parents and caregivers that overcome these barriers and promote learning and wellness.
Initially designed for parents of preschool-age children to help them prepare their children for kindergarten, Tips·by·Text has expanded to reach informal caregivers of young children, as well as parents and caregivers of children ages 0-6 and middle school students across the country and internationally.
Our research demonstrates that the Tips·by·Text program increases parents’ involvement at home and school, ultimately leading to learning gains for children [brief, paper]. The effects of the program are particularly pronounced for children who begin with the weakest skills, suggesting that texting programs may help lessen the achievement gap from an early age.
