SASKATCHEWAN — Each year, families across Canada come together to celebrate Family Literacy Day, and in Saskatchewan, the day has turned into an all-week event.
The theme for this year’s Family Literacy Day is “Make Mealtime Family Learning Time,” taking everyday moments into simple, meaningful learning experiences, with no extra prep or special tools needed.
“When families slow down, eat together and talk, they are already supporting literacy, numeracy and lifelong learning,” said Sheryl Harrow-Yurach of Foundations Learning & Skills Saskatchewan (FLSS).
Since the inception of Family Literacy Day, outcomes across Canada have shown not only progress, but also ongoing challenges. There has been an increased awareness of early literacy, stronger partnerships between schools, libraries and community organizations and more family-centred programming over the past few years. Yet, national and international assessments reflect that some children and adults still struggle with literacy, especially with families that face barriers such as income, language, disability and access to supports.
“There is a much broader recognition now that literacy begins long before school, that parents and caregivers play a crucial role, and that simple daily activities have a measurable impact on learning outcomes. In that sense, Family Literacy Week hasn’t just tracked literacy numbers, it has helped change behaviours, attitudes and systems that support literacy over the long term,” said Harrow-Yurach.
There is a wide range of activities families can participate in to help support at-home literacy throughout the week, including:
- Talk and listen to each other, asking open-ended questions like “What was the best part of your day?”;
- Read and follow a recipe together – it supports early literacy, sequencing and numeracy, especially when children help measure, stir or set the table;
- Play word and number games while cooking or eating – name foods by colour, counting bites or finding letters in food packaging;
- Share family stories at the table – talk about traditions, memories or cultural foods to help build language skills and create a strong sense of identity;
- Encourage children to help with age-appropriate tasks like washing vegetables – aids in building independence, fine motor skills and problem solving.
For this year’s Family Literacy Week, a Family Literacy Bingo card is available to download, with 25 simple, hands-on mealtime learning activities. Families who complete three or more squares can submit their card to Foundations Learning or their local Family Literacy Hub by Jan. 31 for a chance to win prizes.
“All of our Family Literacy Hubs partner closely with school divisions and public libraries to reinforce the message that learning happens everywhere, not just classrooms. Together, these partnerships send a consistent message: mealtime is already a powerful learning space, and families don’t need special training or extra time to make it count,” added Harrow-Yurach.
Literacy is not just limited to one week a year; it happens through everyday routines that families are already doing. Literacy was once seen as mainly reading and writing in school, but it now includes the skills people need to navigate technology, information and constant change across their lives.
“Families who want support getting started can turn to their local family literacy hub, local library, schools and community organizations across Saskatchewan. All the hubs offer in-person or online programs, resources, and simple at-home ideas. Help is local, free and welcoming – and it’s never too early or too late to start,” said Harrow-Yurach.
To discover where your nearest Family Literacy Hub is, free fun activities, or additional information on family literacy, visit the signature events tab at Foundations Learning & Skills Saskatchewan’s website.
