NEWS  from
 Reach Out and Read
 Washington State
September/October  2019

Early Shared Reading Associated with Less Harsh Parenting
New Study Supports Benefits of Reach Out and Read

Researchers looked at the association between shared reading by mothers with their children at age 1 and harsh parenting at age 3, and shared reading at age 3 and harsh parenting at age 5, collecting data on more than 2,000 mother-child pairs. 

Results showed that daily shared reading was associated with less harsh parenting among both age groups.  Mothers also reported a reduction in negative behaviors from children, which may contribute to the reduction in harsh parenting behaviors.

Reading together also encourages close physical proximity between parent and child while presenting opportunities for interactional reciprocity--the "back-and-forth" of reading together--that contributes to positive parent-child relationships, increased frequency and quality of shared reading, and less parenting stress.

The study concludes that "by promoting shared reading, primary care-based literacy promotion interventions such as Reach Out and Read may also help promote resilience by enhancing the parent-child relationship through less harsh parenting."
Dipesh Navsaria-baby

Social-Emotional Development through Book Sharing
New Book List with Titles for Kids of All Ages

Storybooks are a powerful way to help children build social-emotional skills. Books can help start conversations about difficult topics such as emotions, feelings, bullying, fear, and loss. 

Dr. Dipesh Navsaria, a pediatrician and librarian who serves on Reach Out and Read's National Board of Directors and as the medical director of Reach Out and Read Wisconsin, has created a great  book list of titles that can support conversations between caregivers and children on topics such as listening to others' views, teaching kindness, and expressing emotions for kids of all ages. 

We hope you will check out this list, along with the many other great resources on the A merican Academy of Pediatrics' Parenting Website.


New School Readiness Technical Report
The Essential Role of Pediatric Primary Care

According to an update of a School Readiness Technical Report from the American Academy of Pediatrics: "Children's readiness for kindergarten should become an outcome measure for a coordinated system of community-based programs and supports for the healthy development of young children." Reach Out and Read is specifically cited for the important role we play in supporting school readiness and healthy families.
 
The report describes the essential role pediatricians play in preparing children for preschool and kindergarten in partnership with evidence-based interventions, like Reach Out and Read, shown to have impacts across varying domains of school readiness. "The most studied and scaled primary prevention program is Reach Out and Read, which impacts more than 25% of all children in low-income families by improving child language skills and increasing reading aloud activities."
 
To learn more about Reach Out and Read's unique ability to positively impact school readiness, you can read the full report by clicking the link below.
READ THE REPORT
  About Reach Out and Read Washington State

Reach Out and Read gives young children a foundation for success by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging families to read aloud together.  Our evidence- based proven program leverages the influence of children's doctors and makes literacy promotion  a standard part of well-child checkups from birth through 5 years. Reach Out and Read  supports parents as their child's first teacher and helps children be ready for  kindergarten. 
 
Through 240 programs in 30 counties, 2,500 medical providers serve an estimated  137,500 children and their families across Washington. Reach Out and Read  Washington State is part of Reach Out and Read, Inc., a national not-for  profit 501(c)3  organization.
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