Assembly Member Karim Camara (D-43rd AD) and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (11th CD), visited the pediatric clinic at Kings County Hospital Center in Brooklyn, New York on Thursday, Sept. 9, to help promote School Readiness through Reach Out and Read Greater New York.
Children waited in a reading room, which is designated for them. Member Camara chose from a stack of books to read and to his surprise some of the kids were familiar with the stories, which made the reading session quite engaging.
“It is important that we motivate our children to develop a passion for reading at an early age,” Representative Clarke said. “That is why I am honored to join Reach Out and Read by encouraging future generations to read as much and as often as possible. I believe we must unite to position our youth for great success in the future through the power of reading.”
Reach Out and Read is an evidence-based, national nonprofit organization that prepares America’s youngest children to succeed in school by partnering with doctors and other medical professionals advise parents about the importance of reading aloud and give age-appropriate books to children, starting with the six-month checkup and continuing through age 5, with special emphasis on children growing up in low-income communities.
The Reach Out and Read model is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the program has one of the strongest records of research support of any primary care intervention.
Dr. Yogendra Saxena, medical director of pediatrics at Kings County Hospital said, “In my experience, reading is perhaps the best way to engage a child’s mind and intellect. It is better to get children interested and involved with reading at a young age, because it increases their chances of gaining a greater appreciation for literature and knowledge. Once they are into it, they will continue and develop this life-long skill.”
