Literacy Development in a Japanese Family Context

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study investigated (1) the types of literacy activities and materials that Japanese family members use to promote the children‘s literacy development in their home environment and (2) the extent to which the Japanese children are exposed to literacy resources inside and outside their home. The sample consisted of 67 families of children who were enrolled in kindergarten. The Japanese Family Literacy Questionnaire was used to collect the data. It provides information on the types of activities and materials family members use to promote their children‘s literacy development. The results show that the family members (e.g., father, mother, grandmother, aunt) are sensitive to their children‘s interests and skills in their selection of activities and materials that promote their children‘s literacy development and family-child interactions in their home environment. Family members engaged in literary activities in both inside and outside the home including trips to the library. The results show that family literacy activities provide general information (e.g., storybooks, recipes, cooking instructions), advertising information (e.g., newspapers, catalogs or advertisements, telephone book), and school/home information (e.g., personal letters, personal notes or messages left by family members in the home, student homework assignments, notes sent home by school or teachers, school cafeteria menu).