Learning to read at a young age and building an early foundation in literacy can make a dramatic difference in a child’s ability to learn as he or she grows older, said Dr. Janesri De Silva, founder of Kids and Teens Medical Group.

Children from birth through age 5 can benefit from Reach Out and Read programs which aims at improving their ability to learn and instilling a lifelong love of literature. (photo courtesy of Reach Out and Read)

That approach is an integral part of Reach Out and Read, a program De Silva recommends for all children from birth through age 5. While children may often be glued to smart phones, computer tablets and high-definition televisions, reading a book is an often overlooked form of education that can pay big dividends later in life, she said.

“In terms of a child being highly educated, it starts in the first five years,” De Silva added. “Not enough goes into teaching children to read at an early age. Studies show the brain starts to develop at a very young age. Reading absolutely translates into success at school and when a child engages with books, they will be smarter later on.”

De Silva began partnering with and advocating for Reach Out and Read within the last year. The doctor, whose medical group offers comprehensive pediatric care, said the program is especially important in underserved communities where parents may not have the resources to help their children develop good literacy skills. According to Reach Out and Read, one-third of young children in the United States, and half of children living in poverty, start kindergarten without the skills needed for success in school. Students who enter kindergarten with below-grade-level reading skills have a much higher chance of dropping out.

“We want to bring kids back to basics,” De Silva added. “We have to retrain the brain back to basics.”

Reach Out and Read, a national organization based in Boston, provides resources for parents enabling them to become better educational role models for children. The organization’s website features information for parents of infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Tips include engaging young children in conversation, playing educational games and surrounding them with toys and objects displaying words. Reading to young children daily is key, and word play and rhyming help develop young minds.

Dr. Janesri De Silva, of Kids and Teens Medical Group, is a strong proponent of Reach Out and Read and the benefits it provides in early childhood development. (photo courtesy of Dr. Janesri De Silva)

“The program gets parents, at the time when babies are born, to start reading to children,” De Silva said. “Even when a mother is pregnant, it helps to start reading.”

Pediatricians affiliated with Reach Out and Read teach parents about the program during doctor’s visits. De Silva said patients are encouraged to read in the waiting room. Books are provided to doctors who then give them to children and parents. Supporters are encouraged to support the program through book and monetary donations.

Research shows that the program is having a positive impact on young children. Parents who read to children more than four times a week saw higher vocabulary scores, as well as higher receptive language scores, according to a report published in the journal Pediatrics. Children who participated in Reach Out and Read programs were more likely to cite reading and sharing books as a favorite activity, stated a report in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. De Silva encouraged people to visit the Reach Out and Read website at reachoutandread.org to learn about the program.

“I am trying to bring the community to this national organization.” She added. “It has to be a community effort. I hope they will donate and participate.”