JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
The 628th Medical Group Pediatrics Clinic has teamed up with the Reach out and Read organization to provide free books to military children when they visit their pediatrician for a Well Baby check up at the JB Charleston - Air Base Medical Clinic at JB Charleston, S.C. The books, donated by a local business are part of a growing program designed to prepare America's youngest children to succeed in school by partnering with doctors to prescribe books and encourage families to read together.
According to Maj Tara Conner, 628th Medical Group pediatrician, "When a parent brings in a child ages 6 months through 5 years of age, that child will receive a book appropriate for their age."
Studies have shown that families served by Reach Out and Read have children that enter kindergarten with larger vocabularies and are better prepared to achieve their potential in school .
According to the Reach Out and Read website, reading to children provides a host of benefits including:
Acquiring early language skills
Helping children developing positive associations with books and reading
Helping children build a stronger foundation for school success .
Pediatric Well visits are done for children at the following ages: 2 days, 2 weeks, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 24, 30 and 36 months, and then annually until a child reaches 18 years of age. Parents can schedule their Well Baby visits by calling the 628th MG at 963-6880.
For more information on Reach out and Read, go to http://www.reachoutandread.org/about-us/