Clinic-Based Intervention to Promote Literacy

Educational research has shown that children become literate more easily if their parents read to them. A clinic-based program was designed to encourage early book use among parents of children at risk. It included (1) waiting room readers, (2) guidance about literacy development, and (3) provision of children's books at each visit. Seventy-nine parents of children aged 6 to 60 months were interviewed. Parents who had previously received a book were more likely to report looking at books with their children or that looking at books was a favorite activity (adjusted odds ratio, 4.05). This association was strongest among parents receiving Aid to Families With Dependent Children (odds ratio, 7.8). This preliminary study suggests that pediatricians can play a role in enriching children's early literacy environments, especially for children at high risk of school failure.