Rural and Indigenous Families’ Support of Young Children’s Writing

Abstract

Northern Canadian rural and Indigenous parents provide valuable information about the self-initiated writing that their two- through nine-year-old children do at home. In interview responses, participating parents tell stories about the writing materials and spaces they make available to children for writing, and about how they support their children’s writing. Parents provide examples of their children’s self-initiated writing and explain that the writing is usually to express feelings about and to inform family members. Recommendations for teachers include initiating conversations with parents about the writing that their children do at home, and providing specific information about how parents can support their children’s writing. A Tips for Parents sheet is provided.