Sherman Alexie The Role Of Family In Literacy Summary

What is the Role of the Family in Literacy? While recently there are more literate people who don't read than those who are actually illiterate, parents should maintain an active role in their children's literacy considering that parents who support their children's reading at an early age set up their children for academic success, parents that are a role model and read to their children daily will engrain the passion of literature into them, and parents that limit electronic time will allow their children to develop valuable thinking skills. When children are in their infancy or toddler years, parents are quick to rush to the bookstore and buy all the books they know from their childhood so that they can, in turn, read those very
Children look up to their parents for guidance, they soak in all that mom and dad portray and behave. Parents that read for their own education or pleasure are sure to influence their children’s love for books as well. Young boys and girls want to epitomize their parents. Another anthology by writer Sherman Alexie describes how his passion for reading was preceded by his father’s passion for reading, “My father loved books, and since I loved my father with aching devotion, I decided to love books as well.” (35). Alexie’s father bought books by the pound, as he describes in the story, from all different places, including thrift stores. As a result of his father owning a houseful of books, Alexie followed in his father’s literary footsteps, fell in love with reading, and furthered his education to become a successful writer. Parents that understand and appreciate the values of reading not only set their children up to become more successful but they cultivate bonds with their children. In one journal written by Diana Patricia Sukhram and Amy Hsu about early reading exposure, it explains about a reading program that was surveyed amongst parents and their children between the ages of 6 to 36 months of age and how the children reacted to reading with their parents/caregivers. The children were eager, pointing to the illustrations and letters of the books. They attempted to get closer to the book. Researchers revealed, “the children participants revealed that they were happy, eager to learn and engaged in the reading sessions and activities.” They also stated that ” The children enjoyed the undivided attention from their parent/caregiver during the session time devoted to practicing the modeled skills” (119). If a child is exposed to positive habits early on, they will be sure to carry those habits throughout their lifetime. These habits are