Reading for Life: The Impact of Youth Literacy on Health Outcomes.

Access: FREE/Open Access

Download the full text: ED629424

Publication year

2022

study description

Review

core topic(s)

Early Literacy , Early Relational Health , Pediatric Primary Care , Shared Reading

Population Characteristics

Medical Providers

Exposures, Outcomes, Other

Clinic-Based Programs and Interventions , Parent-Provider Relationships/Interactions

objectives

Reviewing data on reading and literacy and their impact on the physical, mental, and social-emotional components of health

exposure

Shared reading

outcomes evaluated

Relationship between childhood literacy and health outcomes

methods

Topics discussed • INTRODUCTION: READING FOR LIFE • THE STATE OF CHILDHOOD LITERACY IN THE UNITED STATES • LITERACY AND CHILDREN’S HEALTH • EDUCATORS AND PEDIATRICIANS IN PARTNERSHIP • CONCLUSION: LOOKING TO THE FUTURE"

measures

Review

results

• Review the current state of children’s literacy and health, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic • Explore the importance of early-childhood education and literacy interventions in preschool, and their roles in health outcomes • Summarize existing literature on the relationship between literacy rates and physical, mental, and social-emotional health • Study successful collaborations between the education and medical fields to implement literacy interventions in pediatric healthcare settings

conclusions

The documented relationship between childhood literacy and health outcomes points to a clear need for partnership among families, educators, and healthcare providers throughout childhood and adolescence—a need that is especially important for a generation impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Existing programs like Head Start and Reach Out and Read not only offer valuable insight into the impact of early literacy, they also underscore the important role pediatricians can play in delivering impactful early literacy guidance directly to families. These programs, along with new technological strategies like TipsByText provide the healthcare and education communities proven, achievable models for a thriving partnership. Moving forward, communities, schools, and organizations should work to engage stakeholders.

limitations

Not discussed