More about this project

The national strategy ‘Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life’ (Department of Education and Skills 2011), includes a range of actions to enable parents and communities to support children’s learning. The strategy recognises that parents who are engaged in their child's learning, have a significant positive impact on a child’s educational achievement - especially in literacy and numeracy.

As part of this strategy, the Department asked the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) to highlight the role that parents and communities can play in improving children’s literacy and numeracy, using media, online resources and celebrity endorsements.

To achieve this, NALA has developed Help My Kid Learn - a simple website that brings together relevant information for parents and the wider community to support children’s literacy and numeracy development. NALA also developed two six-part telivision series in 2013 and 2014 that followed families from around Ireland working together on a project to help with learning and educational needs. Each week a different family together with a celebrity mentor devised a tailor made project to address family’s needs. Educational tutors are also on hand to provide assistance and they worked on a team project.

The purpose of the Help My Kid Learn website is to provide fun activities that parents can do with their children to develop their literacy and numeracy. It includes general information, fun activities and useful tips. Help My Kid Learn helps people to see that developing their child’s literacy and numeracy is natural and easy. It can take place in the time you already have together. There are fun activities that can be integrated into any part of the day.

At community level, a wide range of statutory and voluntary groups support children and adults’ literacy and numeracy development. NALA aims to support that effort by providing a single reference point for parents, guardians and childminders. This website helps people understand their role in developing their child’s literacy and numeracy skills.