Family literacy programs

Family literacy programs provide meaningful opportunities for children, their parents, other family members and caregivers to learn and grow together. Family literacy programs:

• help build self-esteem
• address individual and family needs by building on strengths
• recognize adult family members’ skills, knowledge and attitudes as powerful infl uences on children’s emergent literacy and success in school.
• promote the development of closer, stronger relationships within families
• value families’ use of fi rst languages and diverse cultural practices
• provide resources that increase adults’ and children’s motivation to learn
• help prepare children for school
• help families understand the school system and their roles in it
• include as many as possible of the following components:
  • early childhood education
  • parenting support
  • interactive parent-child learning activities
  • adult literacy instruction or support
  • information about community supports and help in accessing them
  • health and nutrition information relating to learning

Family literacy programs promote community collaboration to provide a seamless, flexible and accessible system of services and supports for families with children.