Family Literacy in the Context of Educational Media

• In Event: Media and Technology in Early Childhood

Abstract

This research extends earlier work on the effects of family literacy programs that aim to improve home literacy practices and foster children’s language and literacy development. Here, a collaborative program offered by a provincial television network and university researchers provided enjoyable learning experiences for parents and their young children. Parents learned practical literacy skills and theoretical knowledge about language development while children engaged in research-informed literacy activities. Families learned how to use the network’s interactive online games and were given resources to use at home. A matched control group did not receive the family literacy program. Results showed that children whose families participated in the program had significantly greater literacy growth, particularly in the development of early writing skills.

Authors

• Kadria Anne Simons, OISE/University of Toronto

• Janette P. Pelletier, University of Toronto

• Sue Anderson, University of Toronto