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.