School is out! The words may be sweet for children, yet sometimes met with trepidation by parents. This year, families are still navigating the effects of the pandemic, from COVID-19 infections to carrying ongoing concerns about how everyone is doing socially, psychologically and developmentally after lockdowns and pandemic weirdness. With younger children whose schooling has been interrupted, parents may be wondering about the best ways to support what kids need.

Today in The Conversation Canada, Kimberly Hillier of University of Windsor writes about how parents could think about nurturing early literacy skills at home. Her suggestions focus on doing this in ways that don’t place heavy expectations on the domestic responsibilities of parents, often mothers, that have already intensified during the pandemic.

She also discusses the importance of parents and children sharing finding moments of togetherness through the summer. She writes that nurturing early literacy can look like talking about letters, signs and logos you see while riding a city bus with your child. But it can also look like enlisting help to wash the dishes, where the art of conversation and growth in independence can take root.

Also today:

• Are the kids alright? Why Canada must urgently step up to ensure children’s rights
• Ethno-racial minorities in Canada have less access to affordable housing than white people
• The dangers of big data extend to farming
• Prevention is better than cure when it comes to high concussion rates in girls’ rugby
• Market research is essential for entrepreneurs who want their businesses to succeed