personality
and skills is
formed by age 5.
Unfortunately,
a 2013 study
from Reading Is
Fundamental and
Macy’s found that
only 1 in 3 parents
reads bedtime
stories with their
children every night.
To promote literacy at a young age and
encourage reading to children, Aspirus
is integrating a program called Reach
Out and Read into regular well-child
checkups. Currently, Aspirus Pediatrics
in Wausau participates in Reach Out and
Read, and Aspirus will be expanding it to
most of its other Wisconsin clinics that
serve children.
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
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
Out and Read
its own lasting benefits.
“Reading is a gateway to the world
and many different experiences,”
says Kristine Flowers, MD, a Family
Medicine Physician at Aspirus General
Clinic. “Reach Out and Read gives us as
physicians an opportunity to introduce
reading to our littlest patients.”
When children come in for their
regular well-child checkups, they are
given an educational and age-appropriate
book at each visit, 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 doctor
may be the only ones they have
in the house. While providing
books to children is a big
part of the program, Reach
“Reading is a gateway to the world and many different
experiences. Reach Out and Read gives us as
physicians an opportunity to introduce reading to our
littlest patients.”
Kristine Flowers,
MD
Family Medicine
Physician, Aspirus
General Clinic
Out and Read is about so much more.
The physician’s office provides a
unique opportunity to begin the healthy
development of young children because
it offers universal access to children and
families. The program leverages the
influence of parents and doctors to start
children down a path to future success.
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.
• Pathways
5
