Parent-child activities in the PACTT

There are three kinds of parent-child activities in the Parent and Child Together Time (PACTT).

1. Daily visit - Tahi PACTT: The adult has the opportunity to visit the child in his preschool centre for a short period each day and to work with him.
2. Monthly activity - Ropu PACTT: A monthly literacy activity takes place with the preschool and primary school children (e.g., visit to the school or local library).
3. Sessional activity - Whiinau PACTT: Each session includes an activity that takes place after school. This gives the other members of the family the opportunity to participate in the learning of the partIcIpants.

Intensity and duration of the MFLP- One of the most interesting aspects of the New Zealand program is its intensity (20hours a week) and its duration (a fullschool year).

Researfh carried out in the United States (Paratore, 1992) shows that intensify and duration are decisive factors for obtaining significant shortterm and long-term results. This intensity and duration are not found in the family literacy programs in French Canada.

An evauation of the program reveals a range of results obtained between 2003 and 2005 (Benseman, 2004; Benseman and Sutton, 2005).Here are some salient points:

• The majority of participants followed the program through to the end (76%-91 %).
• The preschool programs reported an increase in parents' participation.
• Practitioners noted a marked difference in the parents' long-term aspirations for their child after the program.
• Evidence shows that the learners talked about their participation in the program with friends or family members and that this had a great influence on the family dynamic and the family's longterm goals.
• With regard to parenting skills, the parents reported that the program contributed greatly to improving their family life.
• The children's transition from the preschool program to school was made easier.
• According to the parents, their child had made marked progress and demonstrated better aspirations for learning and positive changes in behaviour.
• The majority of parents who received a program diploma (90%) said that they felt more effective in supporting their child during his school years

5.1.4 lather American models

The moddels presented in this section emphasize various learning and experiences through the medium of life stones and the creation of various printed texts and through the learning of a second language. They draw on the participants' creativity by asking them to write about their experiences and make up children's stories.