ABSTRACT
Digital technologies increasingly mediate how parents and children learn and use literacy. Thus, this chapter has two aims: to examine how families are using newer media and digital literacies in their homes and communities and to report how family literacy programs are incorporating these technologies. The first topic draws mainly on naturalistic research on home and out-of-school literacy practices among families with young children, whereas the second topic focuses on programs or on research that involved an intervention. The chapter begins by defining digital literacy and summarizing data on digital access. It then reviews research on families’ home digital literacy practices and digital literacies in family literacy programs, including efforts to teach families digital skills, digital storytelling, and using digital technologies to support parents and encourage literacy. The chapter ends with considerations for incorporating digital technologies in family literacy programming.
