The survey questions related to early literacy experiences were designed to explore the connections between individual learners, their families and community, and the formal education system. From the learners' early awareness of learning at home to the learners' perceptions of schooling, the survey questions attempted to explore the personal literacies of these CASP participants. The questions covered such topics as: childhood play, storytelling, access to reading material and being read to. Other questions specifically asked how learners thought they had learned to read, or if they did not learn to read, why not. These early memories reflected what had shaped their literacy development. Comments written on the survey form provided responses that were revealing and heartfelt.

Respondents were asked to indicate their favourite pastime in childhood. Table 2 indicates that differences between males and females are significant. The majority of both males and females indicated that playing with friends was their favourite pastime, and roughly equal proportions indicated they had watched television. None of the males reported reading as a favourite pastime, while over one-third reported they had preferred to participate in sports. One in five female respondents reported reading as a favourite pastime. This finding does not mean that the males did not read, only that they preferred other activities since data reported in a later section indicates that at least 70% of all respondents had access to reading materials.