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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.
More than just a free book
For some, the free books given to them
at their visits 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 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
Only online
Interested in learning more about
your baby’s development? Go online to
aspirus.org/babydevelopment
to see
videos and information about the different
milestones you can expect your child to
achieve as he or she grows.
Why reading is important for kids
The idea of ensuring that every
child in Marathon County gets off to
a great start has been identified by
area communities as a long-term call
to action in the 2013–15 Marathon
County LIFE Report, a biennial report
that depicts the quality of life in
Marathon County.
While the LIFE Report focuses
on Marathon County, setting our
children up for future success is
surely something we all hope to
accomplish.
According to the Marathon County
LIFE Report:
w
The experiences children have
during their first five years of life
have dramatic effects on their
abilities to learn, to interact
socially and to attain lifelong
success.
w
Gaps in achievement are often
attributed to deficits in learning
acquired during preschool years
that then follow students and grow
throughout their education.
families. The program leverages the
influence of parents and doctors to start
children down a path to future success.
“We know that early childhood
development is critical, and it is important
to introduce reading and parental
interaction at an early age,” Dr. Hackworth
said. “The majority of the kids we see at our
clinic are being read to, but every situation
is different, and it can be hard for the kids
who aren’t getting that same interaction to
catch up once they get to school.”
Dr. Hackworth says that 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.
“Overall, the reaction of the families we
see at the clinic has been very positive,”
she said. “Anecdotally, Reach Out and
Read has had a positive effect locally,
and national data also indicates that the
program has produced positive results.”
“Early childhood
development is
critical, and it
is important to
introduce reading
and parental
interaction at an
early age.”
—Sarah Hackworth, MD
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.
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 its own
lasting benefits.
“The program serves as a gateway to
allow us to introduce the topic of reading
and literacy,” said Sarah Hackworth, MD,
a pediatrician at Aspirus Pediatrics. “The
books are used as a teaching tool, but one
that is also fun for the child.”
When children come in for their
regular well-child checkups, they
