What is Family Literacy?

Family literacy refers to the many ways families develop and use literacy skills to accomplish day-to-day tasks and activities.

Examples of family literacy might include writing a note to a child’s teacher, sharing a bedtime story, making shopping lists, and using a recipe. As well, adult reading and writing for different purposes at home, and literacy-related adult discussions typify family literacy, where adults may be literacy role models in the home (Barton, 1997) (from Family Literacy in Canada: Profiles of Effective Practices).