How this information is used is critical. Family literacy can work, and does work, in some instances, with quality control. It does not work when resources are over-extended. What We Know . Catherine Snow and Patton Tabors , Intergenerational Transfer of Literacy .
Positive affect is important.
Physical closeness and individual attention can contribute. Although a child's simple literacy skills may be sufficient for the first few grades of school, this does not always translate to the comprehension necessary by third grade. It is clear that different outcomes occur or manifest themselves at different stages, and that there are many levels for characterizing what happens between parents and children concerning literacy. The research on family literacy programs shows that, while some small positive effects are in evidence among participating mothers and children, there are no large effects. Dorothy Strickland , Meeting the Needs of Families in Family Literacy Programs .