Reading With Your Infant

    Over the years, we have been doing our research on more ways of how to end illiteracy in youth and we came across this article written by Chrildren's Hospital of Philadelphia. CHOP has a nonprofit organization named Reach Out and Read that gives young children a foundation for success by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging families to read aloud together.

“The highest rate of return in early childhood development comes from investing as early as possible, from birth through age five, in disadvantaged families. Starting at age three or four is too little too late, as it fails to recognize that skills beget skills in a complementary and dynamic way. Efforts should focus on the first years for the greatest efficiency and effectiveness. The best investment is in quality early childhood development from birth to five for disadvantaged children and their families.”—James J. Heckman

    In the exam rooms at the sites usually primary care doctor’s offices, the pediatricians and nurse practitioners encourage parents to read aloud to their children,; and offer age-appropriate tips and give the young children a brand-new, age-appropriate book at each well visit.

     This program begins at the child’s 6-month checkup, and continues through age 5, with special emphasis on children growing up in low-income communities. Families served by the program read together more often, and their children enter kindergarten with larger vocabularies and stronger language skills, better prepared to achieve to their potential.

“Growing up in poverty is one of the greatest threats to healthy child development. Poverty and financial stress can impede children’s cognitive development and their ability to learn.” - Annie E. Casey

    During the fiscal year, the pediatricians, residents and nurse practitioners at CHOP's Reach Out and Read sites will need to give at least 56,500 brand-new, age-appropriate books to children ages 6 months through 5 years during well visits, and advise parents about the importance of reading aloud and language development.

“A major contribution of family literacy to young children’s future success is the act of talking with infants and toddlers….the richness of interaction in the home has a strong influence on early language development and acquisition of literacy that lasts throughout the school years.”  Rosenkoetter, S. Knapp-Philo, J.