Promoting Early Literacy in the Pediatrician’s Office: What Have we Learned?

Access: FREE/Open Access

Download the full text: Golova_2016

Publication year

2016

study description

Review.

core topic(s)

Pediatric Primary Care , Reach Out and Read (ROR)

Population Characteristics

Medical Providers

Exposures, Outcomes, Other

Anticipatory Guidance , Brain/Neurocognitive , Language and Literacy Development , Provider Behaviors and Skills , Technology and Digital/Screen-Based Media

objectives

To describe current knowledge about the effects of promoting literacy and early language development in young children.

exposure

Reach Out and Read (ROR).

outcomes evaluated

Early literacy and language development.

setting

Pediatric primary care.

methods

Topics Discussed: Early Brain Development and Literacy Interventions, Impact of the "Word Gap", Outcomes of Poor Literacy, Why Books? What About Electronics and TV?, Benefits of the Reach Out and Read Model, Parent-Child Bonding from Sharing Books, The effects on the Brain from Listening to Stories.

measures

Review.

results

Children who are exposed to literacy-promoting interventions in their pediatricians' offices are more likely to be read to frequently by their caregivers and have improved language skills when compared to children who are not. Language disparities can have life-long consequences that are particularly important in children from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. The power of the intervention may lie in the fact that it begins in a parent's lap and helps build strong and nurturing parent-child relationships as well as language skills.

conclusions

Pediatric providers are in a unique position to positively influence a child's life course by promoting literacy starting at birth.

limitations

Not described.