Family literacy programs provide a way to teach families to read and write so that they can help their children at home. Family literacy embraces the intergenerational links which can interrupt the cycle of illiteracy. Teaching the parents and grandparents to increase their academic skills allows them to be a child’s first teacher.

The years from birth to 10 are a crucial age span, when a firm foundation is laid for healthy development and lifelong learning. At three, most children are self-confident and trusting, intellectually inquisitive, able to use language to communicate, able to use their increasing physical activity to play and explore, able to relate well to others, and able to empathize with others.

Enjoy the following family literacy websites to gather various ideas/activities to strengthen family literacy!

Reading is Fundamental
http://www.rif.org/parents


Family Literacy Special Collection
http://literacy.kent.edu/Midwest/FamilyLit/parent_links.html


Partnership for Reading’s “A Child Becomes A Reader”
http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/pfr.html


Family Literacy Resource Notebook: http://literacy.kent.edu/Oasis/famlitnotebook/


Family Literacy Foundation: www.read2kids.org


National Center for Family Literacy: www.famlit.org


International Reading Association: www.reading.org


American Library Association: www.ala.org


Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy:
www.barbarabushfoundation.com


Early Childhood Education
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OERI/ECI/publications.html#ECD


United States Department of Education
http://www.ed.gov/parents/landing.jhtml?src=pn