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According to a study by scientists representing the National Center for Latino Child and Family Research and other agencies, there are no differences in cognitive and motor competencies between Latino children and their white peers at nine months of age, when pre-existing differences in socio-economic status are taken into consideration. However, by the time they enter kindergarten, 75 percent of white students recognize letters, while only 50 percent of Latino children have learned this skill. Studies have shown that children whose parents read and talk with them more and are emotionally responsive have more developed cognitive and motor competencies. The difference in Latino vs. white school readiness may be related to the fact that Latino families are less likely to read books and share stories with their children than parents from other ethnic backgrounds, according to the study. The lower rate of book reading by Latino parents with their young children has been found in several previous studies. Researchers have suggested that Latino parents may engage in other, perhaps more culturally relevant forms of talk with their young children. However, this study joins another related study indicating that Latino families engage in fewer storytelling activities with their young children.

Source: Harvard Family Research Project, Research Digest, " Young Latino Infants and Families: Parental Involvement Implications from a Recent National Study", June 2007,   http://www.gse.harvard.edu/hfrp/projects/fine/resources/digest/infants.html