Reach Out and Read Rhode Island gives young children a foundation for success by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging families to read aloud together.
Model
Beginning at the first pediatric visit through age five, pediatric health care providers advise parents and caregivers to read aloud every day at bedtime. To encourage families to incorporate book reading into their evening routine, a new developmentally- and language-appropriate book is provided at every checkup.
History
Reach Out and Read was developed by pediatricians and early childhood educators who recognized that early exposure to books and reading greatly increases a child’s chance for healthy development and lifelong success.
There are 5,500 Reach Out and Read sites across the nation. The Rhode Island affiliate began in 1999 with a grant from the Rhode Island Foundation. Today, there are 70 hospitals, clinics, practices, and community health centers statewide reaching 40,000 children and providing 80,000 new books at no cost to families each year.
For a listing of Reach Out and Read Rhode Island sites click here.