What is Family Learning?

Family Learning is learning that takes place among family members and friends, including parents, grandparents and carers. It's about discovering and exploring things together as a family. It can include everything from learning about your family history to finding out more about recycling.

Why should families do things together?
Families teach us the most important things in life. By doing activities together, families can help children get more from school - from better grades to scoring more goals. Adults can also benefit from doing things with their children - from learning the latest computer skills to having fun with painting.

Family fun isn't just for parents and children - dads, mums, stepparents, carers, aunts, uncles and grandparents can all join in. And the more family members you have joining in, the bigger the difference you can make to your lives.

• These facts show how important Family Learning is:
• Children spend 85% of their waking hours outside of school.
• At 6 years old we have learned 50% of our vocabulary.
• Seven year olds who had been given books at nine months achieved results 20% higher than other children in national English, maths and science tests.
• Birmingham University/Bookstart: The stage of life during which we learn at the fastest rate is the first ten years.
• 82% of children receive some care from their grandparents; 1% of the country's 13 million grandparents have grandchildren living with them. 'Charities unite over Election manifesto': press release: Grandparents Plus, Grandparents Association, Family Rights Group: 8 March 2005
• One third of parents are worried about helping their child with homework in case they 'get it wrong'.
• 41% of parents want to know how to help their children with maths.

Find out more about why Family Learning is important by clicking here.