As a healthcare provider, you play a key role in the raising readers program. Doctors and healthcare providers are trusted sources of information and advice by parents. Giving a book to a child at a well child visit will not only put the child at ease, but will provide a better atmosphere for the three way interaction between yourself, the child and the parent. It also gives you a chance to stress the importance of reading aloud, the effect it has on brain development and give suggestions to parents about how to use the book with their child.
Children need to acquire pre-reading skills to learn to read. These skills are part of emergent literacy - defined as what a child needs to know before he or she can learn to read. Read more about "pre-reading" skills.
Reading Tips Sheets in English and Other Languages
NEW for Healthcare Providers: Making the Most of Books in Well Child Care
Helpful tips for engaging children, families and your staff in promoting literacy in your practice or hospital!
Well child visits are recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics at following ages:
|2 months||18 months|
|4 months||2 years|
|6 months||3 years|
|9 months||4 years|
|1 year||5 years|