This document, one in a series of fact sheets published by the NWT Literacy Council, focuses on essential skills as they apply to families. Those skills are defined as reading, document use, writing, numeracy, oral communication, thinking, working with others, computer use and lifelong learning.

In this fact sheet, the authors offer examples of what each of those skills would mean in the context of a hypothetical family made up of a mother, father, three children and a grandmother. For example, a lively discussion at the supper table is used to illustrate oral communication. To illustrate numeracy, the authors describe the father helping the older children with their math homework and the mother managing the family budget.