The Early Learning Experiences of Inuit Children in Canada

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Description

by Anne Guèvremont

In what ways do children learn about words?
What is the play environment for Inuit children?
How many children participate in traditional activities?
Who helps children learn?
Where do children learn
Is participation in early learning activities related to parent education, family income, and having a lone parent?
References

Young Inuit children have the opportunity to learn in different places and with different people. This fact sheet describes the early learning experiences of 2- to 5- year old Inuit children in Canada, using data from the 2006 Aboriginal Children's Survey.

In what ways do children learn about words?

Hearing stories, reading books and counting can help children learn about words, language, and culture (Canadian Council on Learning, 2006a).

• Three out of four 2- to 5- year-old Inuit children read or look at books every day, two out of three hear stories every day and four out of five count every day.
• Nine out of 10 Inuit children do at least one of these activities daily, whereas about half of Inuit children do all three activities every day. Only one in fourteen do none of these activities daily.

 Chart 1 The majority of Inuit children aged 2 to 5 hear stories, read books, and count once a day or more

What is the play environment for Inuit children?

Play is an important part of children's learning because it helps them to develop social, physical, and emotional skills (Canadian Council on Learning, 2006b). Both outdoor play and creative play (like arts and crafts and pretend play) can have a positive impact on children's physical and mental well-being.

• The majority of 2- to 5- year-old Inuit children play outside every day in warm weather (nine out of 10, or 92%). About two out of five play outside every day in cold weather, while another half of children play outside less than once a day in cold weather.
• Two out of three Inuit children do arts and crafts and three out of four participate in role playing games (pretend play like playing house or school) every day.
• Nineteen Inuit children out of twenty do at least one of these activities daily (play outside in either warm or cold weather, arts and crafts, role playing games), whereas half of Inuit children do all of these activities daily.

 Chart 2 Most Inuit children aged 2 to 5 play outside everyday in warm weather; the majority engages in creative play daily

How many children participate in traditional activities?

Young Inuit children can learn about their culture from participating in traditional and seasonal activities.

• Two out of three 2- to 5- year-old Inuit children participate in traditional activities. Two out of three children participate in seasonal activities and two out of three go hunting, fishing, or camping.
• Seven out of eight Inuit children participate in at least one of the three activities and 38% participate in all three activities, while 13% do not participate in any traditional or seasonal activities.

 Chart 3 Two out of three Inuit children under six years old participate in traditional or seasonal activities

Who helps children learn?

• Many people are involved in raising Inuit children (Statistics Canada, 2008b). One-half of Inuit children are raised by four or more people. The majority of the time this included the mother (93% of children) and father (77% of children). It also often included a grandparent (48% of children), other relative (47% or children) or non-relative (19% of children).
• Inuit children in families with the lowest incomes were less likely to have many people raising them.
• Inuit children were more likely to have many people involved in raising them if they lived in Inuit Nunangat.
• One in four Inuit children were living with a lone parent. Inuit children living with two parents were more likely to have four or more people involved in raising them compared to children living with a lone parent.
• Three out of four Inuit children have someone to help them understand Inuit culture and history. This person is usually a parent or grandparent, but sometimes is an aunt or uncle, or a teacher or child care provider.

Chart 4 Inuit children under six years old were more likely to have four or more people involved in raising them if they lived in higher income families and in Inuit Nunangat

Where do children learn?

Many children are also involved in learning experiences outside of the home.

• About one in seven 2- to 5- year-old Inuit children attend child and parent programs (like 'Moms & Tots', 'The Dad Program', or 'Mother Goose').
• Two out of three 4- and 5- year-old Inuit children are in school.
• As well, some children learn in a child care setting. About 40% of 2- to 5- year old Inuit children attend child care. For children attending child care, the most common main type of child care arrangement is a daycare centre.

Is participation in early learning activities related to parent education, family income, and having a lone parent?

Parents' education

• Inuit children of high school graduates are more likely than children of non-graduates to participate in language activities on a daily basis. Two out of three Inuit children of high school graduates hear stories, read or look at books, and count at least once a day, compared to one in two children of non-high school graduates.
• The percentage of Inuit children who participate in all three play activities daily (play outside, do arts and crafts and role play) is the same for children of high school graduates and children of non-graduates.
• Participation in traditional and seasonal activities, and in hunting, fishing, or camping, was the same for Inuit children whose parents had and had not graduated high school.

Income

• Inuit children in lower income families are less likely to participate in language and play activities compared to children in higher income families.
• Inuit children in higher income families are more likely to participate in seasonal activities, and also more likely to go hunting, fishing or camping compared to children in lower income families. There was no difference in participation in traditional activities.

Lone parent

• There are no differences in participation in language and play activities for Inuit children living with a lone parent compared to children living with two parents.
• Inuit children living with two parents are more likely than children living with a lone parent to participate in seasonal activities and to go hunting, fishing, or camping. There was no difference in participation in traditional activities.

References

CANADIAN COUNCIL ON LEARNING. 2006a. Lessons in Learning: How Parents Foster Early Literacy.

CANADIAN COUNCIL ON LEARNING. 2006b. Lessons in Learning: Let the children play: Nature's answer to early learning.

STATISTICS CANADA. 2008a. Aboriginal Children's Survey 2006: Aboriginal Children's Survey, 2006: Concepts and Methods Guide.

STATISTICS CANADA. 2008b. Aboriginal Children's Survey, 2006: Family, Community and Child Care.

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Note

1. At the time the Aboriginal Children's Survey data were collected, the term for the Inuit homeland was 'Inuit Nunaat'. More recently, the term has changed to 'Inuit Nunangat'.