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Aspirus Medford Hospital environmental
services aide Kristy Schesel reads to her
daughters Emily and Kellie.
About the program
Reach Out and Read is a national,
evidence-based program that uses books
as tools to assess a child’s cognitive
development and introduce parents to
the importance of engaging with and
reading to their children. The program
focuses on children ages 6 months to
5 years, a critical window of time for
brain growth that does not occur at any
other time in a child’s life.
Reading to children inspires curiosity
By the
numbers
of the foundation of a child’s
intellect, personality and
skills is formed by age 5.
parents read bedtime
stories with their
children every night.
Aspirus has distributed approximately
10,000 books to families at their well-
child checkups.
85% 1 in3 10,000
and helps them expand their vocabulary,
even if they are too young to read
themselves. It also provides parents and
caregivers an opportunity for one-on-one
bonding with children, which has its own
lasting benefits.
“The program serves as a gateway to
allow us to introduce the topic of reading
and literacy,” says Sarah Hackworth, MD,
a pediatrician at Aspirus Pediatrics. “The
books are used as a teaching tool, but one
that is also fun for the child.”
When children come
in for their regular well-
child checkups, they are
given an educational and
age-appropriate book, and
their parents are advised
about the importance of
reading. The discussion
about age-appropriate
literacy and parent-child
bonding strategies is
integrated into a typical
well-child visit.
Providers at Aspirus
Pediatrics have
participated in Reach
Out and Read since 2008.
The clinic has distributed
approximately 10,000 books to families
at their well-child checkups, and
each provider has undergone special
training that offers suggestions on how
to present the books to children and
parents.
More than just a free book
For some, the free books given to
them at their visit to the clinic may be
the only ones they have in the house.
While providing books to children is
a big part of the
program, Reach
Out and Read is
about so much
more.
The clinic
provides a unique
opportunity to
begin the healthy
development of young children because
it offers access to children and families.
The program leverages the influence
of parents and health care
providers to start children
down a path to future success.
“We know that early
childhood development is
critical, and it is important to
introduce reading and parental
interaction at an early age,”
Dr. Hackworth says. “The
majority of the kids we see at
our clinic are being read to,
but every situation is different,
and it can be hard for the kids
who aren’t getting that same
interaction to catch up once
they get to school.”
Dr. Hackworth says
just seeing how children
and parents react and interact when
presented with a book is telling. If
toddlers know how to turn it right-
side up and open the pages, it’s a good
indication that they are being read to.
“Overall, the reaction of the families
we see at the clinic has been very
positive,” she says. “Anecdotally, Reach
Out and Read has had a positive effect
locally, and national data also indicates
that the program has produced positive
results.”
“Early
childhood
development
is critical, and
it is important
to introduce
reading and
parental
interaction at
an early age.”
only
Sarah
Hackworth, MD
