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Percentage of children age 36-59 months with whom an adult household member engaged in activities that promote learning and
school readiness during the last three days, Afghanistan, 2010-2011
Percentage of children
age 36-59 months
With whom
adult With whom
household the father
members engaged in
engaged in one or more
four or more activities 2
activities 1
Mean number of activities
Any adult
household
member
engaged with
the child
The father
engaged with
the child
Percentage of
children not
living with
their
biological
father
Number of
children age
36-59
months
Primary 82.9 58.0 4.6 1.1 3.4 269
Secondary + 91.7 67.8 5.2 1.2 2.2 232
Father s education
None 70.4 59.3 4.1 1.0 n/a 4,540
Primary 75.5 59.3 4.3 1.0 n/a 816
Secondary+ 80.8 73.4 4.6 1.4 n/a 1,431
Father not at home 68.8 0.0 4.2 n/a n/a 120
Wealth index quintiles
Poorest 72.3 60.8 4.1 1.0 2.8 1,535
Second 72.1 60.3 4.1 1.1 2.0 1,493
Middle 69.7 64.6 4.1 1.2 1.8 1,427
Fourth 73.2 62.9 4.3 1.2 1.1 1,375
Richest 80.2 60.0 4.6 1.1 2.3 1,081
Total 73.1 61.8 4.2 1.1 2.0 6,911
1
MICS indicator 6.1; 2 MICS Indicator 6.2
For more than two-thirds (73%) of under-five children, an adult household member engaged
in more than four activities that promote learning and school readiness during the three
days preceding the survey (Table 9.2). The average number of activities that adults engaged
in with children was four. The table also indicates that the fathers involvement in one or
more activities was 62%. Fathers support to their children s learning is highest in the South
region (74%) while it is lowest in the Central Highlands region (46%). Interestingly, children
living in households with middle level socio-economic status have the highest rate of
support from the father for the child s learning, while children living in households with the
wealthiest socio-economic status have the lowest rate of support from the father towards
the child s learning. Variances were also found by the father s educational level, in that
fathers with secondary education or higher participated in one or more activities with the
child more often (73%) than did fathers with no education (59%).
Fathers engaged in activities with boys (63%) only slightly more than with girls (60%). Higher
proportions of adults engaged in learning and school readiness activities with children in
urban areas (80%) than in rural areas (72%). Strong differentials by region and socioeconomic
status are also observed: adult engagement in activities with children was greatest
in the Central Highlands region (81%) and lowest in the South East region (62%), while the
proportion was 80% for children living in the wealthiest households, as opposed to those
living in the poorest households (72%).
Children s Exposure to Reading Material and Play Items
Exposure to books during a child s early years not only provides the child with greater
understanding of the nature and purpose of print literacy, but may also give the child
opportunities to see others reading, such as older siblings doing school work. The presence
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