Home learning environment in Latin America and the Caribbean: Associations with young children's cognitive and...

The home learning environment (HLE) plays a crucial role in children's early development. Most research on the associations between the quantity and quality of the HLE and infant and toddler development has been conducted with North American and Western European samples. This is a synthesis of studies on HLE that examine associations with cognitive and socioemotional skills across the first 3 years of life in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Studies reviewed were published between 2000 and 2025 and involved ethnically diverse samples. The article identifies key findings and discusses methodological and conceptual limitations in the studies. The article concludes by offering five recommendations and directions for research specifically in the LAC region: 1) emphasize more culturally relevant operationalizations; 2) investigate the interactive effects of the HLE components on young child development; 3) move beyond the frequency of home literacy activities; 4) incorporate the caregiver's cognition and behavior measures; and 5) explore bidirectional associations between HLE and young children's development. Expanding research efforts in this area beyond North America and Western Europe will contribute to a more inclusive, diverse, and globally representative infant developmental science.