Reach Out and Read: The Benefits of Reading with your Child

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss

Reading can make a big difference in the lives of little children. Cuyuna Regional Medical Center recognizes this and has partnered with the nonprofit Reach Out and Read to help nurture relationships through shared reading. Family Physician, Lacey Running Hawk, MD, brought the program to the Crosby campus in 2021. “It’s a state and national program and is really fun! Primary Care providers give books at every well-child visit from 6 months to 5 years! We use them as tools to screen development and to encourage reading in families. Building rapport with kids is also fun when you bring them a gift!”

According to Reach Out and Read, evidence supports the many positive outcomes of taking the time to read with a child.

• Participating families are more likely to read together and to do so more often
• Children participating in Reach Out and Read programming show increased receptive and expressive vocabulary scores.
• Increased exposure to Reach Out and Read leads to larger increases in language scores.
• At participating clinics, families are more likely to rate their child’s care provider as “helpful,” and providers are more likely to rate families as “receptive.”
• Participating families demonstrated higher attendance rates for well visits.

These benefits highlight the importance of consistent family engagement in reading programs and regular well-child visits. Regular well-child visits are a cornerstone for parents, providing a crucial opportunity to monitor their child’s growth, track developmental milestones, and discuss any health concerns that may arise. Your child’s height, weight, head circumference, and milestones are recorded to track growth and development and identify any problems. Hearing, vision, and other screening tests are also a part of the visit, along with a review of immunizations. Schedule a well-child checkup today at 218-546-7462.