Reading From the Crib Onward

Reading is the essential skill, the foundation of intellectual development. Children who are exposed early to the joys of reading are more likely to do well in school, and people who do well in school are more apt to do well in life. Reading to children facilitates their language learning and stimulates their curiosity. How soon should reading begin? Some pediatricians now advise parents to begin reading to their infants soon after birth.

Eight years ago the Reach Out and Read program was begun at Boston Medical Center. At each pediatric checkup between the ages of 6 months and 5 years parents are given new books and encouraged to read aloud to their children. Dr. Barry Zuckerman, who developed the program, says no studies have been done yet to determine whether babies who are read to become better readers later on. What is known is that mothers in the program are four times more likely to read to their children than mothers who aren’t involved. And mothers who receive welfare payments--and who probably could not afford to buy books--are eight times more likely to read to their kids thanks to the books they receive.

The 53,000 members of the American Academy of Pediatrics are being urged to use the Reach Out and Read program. Book publishers have donated 250,000 books. Visa is making available 7 million “reading checkup” booklets, with advice on how to involve even very young children in the reading process. We hope this kind of support continues, and that all pediatricians will interest themselves in a program that clearly is a promising aid in child development.