Home Observation Measurement of the Environment-Short Form (HOME-SF) from:

National Longitudinal Surveys (NLS), A Program of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 12/27/2022
Link: https://www.nlsinfo.org/content/cohorts/nlsy79-children/topical-guide/assessments/home-home-observation-measurement

Appendix A-1. NLSY79 Child HOME-SF (Short Form): Scale items by age and type of report
S = Mother Self-Report; O = Interviewer Observation

Age Assessed
HOME-SF Item Description
0-2 yrs 3-5 yrs 6-9 yrs 10-14 yrs

1. Child gets out of house 4 times a week or more S - - -

2. Child has 3 children's books (10 for ages 3-9 yrs; 20 for ages 10-14 yrs)** S S S S

3. Mother reads to child 3 times a week or more*** S S S -

4. Child taken to grocery store (once/week or 2-3 times a month) S S - -

5. Child has one or more cuddly, soft or role-playing toys S - - -

6. Child has one or more push or pull toys S - - -

7. Mother believes parents should usually or always spend time teaching kids S - - -

8. Child eats meal with both mother and father(-figure) once a day or more S S S S

9. Mom often talks with child while working S - - -

10. Mom reports no more than 1 spank during past week S S S -

11. Mom spontaneously vocalize to/conversed with child at least twice O O O O

12. Mom responded verbally to child O - - -

13. Mom showed physical affection to child O O O*** O***

14. Mom did not spank child O O - -

15. Mom did not interfere/restrict child more than 3 times O - - -

17. Mom kept child in view O - - -

18. Play environment is safe (home or building for ages 36 mos +) O O O O

19. Family subscribes to at least one magazine - S - -

20. Child has use of record/CD player and at least 5 records/CDs/tapes - S - -

21. Child helped to learn numbers at home - S - -

22. Child helped to learn alphabet at home - S - -

23. Child helped to learn colors at home - S - -

24. Child helped to learn shapes and sizes at home - S - -

25. Child has some choice in foods for breakfast and lunch - S - -

26. TV is on in home less than 5 hours per day - S - -

27. Non-harsh discipline if child hits (or swears/speaks in anger ages 72mos+) - S S S

28. Child taken to museum in past year - S S S

29. Child expected to make his/her bed - - S S

30. Child expected to clean his/her room - - S S

31. Child expected to clean up after spills - - S -

32. Child expected to bathe him/herself - - S -

33. Child expected to pick up after himself/herself - - S S

34. Child expected to keep shared living areas clean and straight - - - S

35. Child expected to do routine chores such as lawn, help w/ dinner, dishes - - - S

36. Child expected to help manage his/her own time - - - S

37. Musical instrument in home child can use (see #20) - - S S

38. Family gets a daily newspaper - - S S

40. Family encourages child to start and do hobbies - - S S

41. Child receives lessons or belongs to sports/music/art/dance/drama org - - S S

42. Child taken to musical or drama performance in past year - - S S

43. Family visits with family or friends 2-3 times a month - - S S

44. Child spends time with father(-figure) 4 times a week - - S S

45. Child spends time with father(-figure) in outdoor activities once a week - - S S

46. When watching TV, parent discusses program with child - - S S

47. Mom encouraged child to contribute to conversation - - O O

48. Mom answered child's questions or requests verbally - O O O

49. Mom introduced interviewer to child by name - O O O

50. Mom's voice conveyed positive feeling about child - O O O

51. Home is not dark - O O O

52. Home is reasonably clean - O O O

53. Home is minimally cluttered - O O O

* One combined version of Interviewer Observations used for ages 6-14 years.

** Data available so that item can be scored based on 10+ books for all ages.

*** Physical affection items reported by mothers for these age groups but not included in score.