A nationwide program that uses one-on-one reading sessions to help small children, Reach Out and Read (ROR), has made its way to Queens.
Unlike traditional literacy programs, ROR focuses on individual reading sittings for children six month to six years old to promote child development.
In order to promote the program, Mount Sinai Hospital in Long Island City is distributing free books to children to take home to their parents.
“Studies have shown that parents reading to their children from ages six months to six years results in better academics,” said Dr. Diane Liu, a medical consultant for ROR. “It also strengthens the family unit.”
One of the goals of the program is to build parent-child relationships by encouraging parents to read to their children. City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr., who is an advocate for the program and a parent himself, recently had the opportunity of reading to children at Mount Sinai Hospital.
“It brought me back to the days when I used to read to my kids – reading is just as important as taking care of the body,” Vallone said.
When Vallone arrived at Mount Sinai, he mentioned how “there were kids in the waiting room who were thrilled to get these books, and I was just as thrilled to read to them.”
As part of the program, younger children are expected to come in more frequently. Unlike typical checkups, doctors cover more areas with parents, “not only with medical health, but also nutrition, development and questions on parenting,” according to Liu.
ROR is one of numerous programs that receive funding from the city council.
“It is important that councilmembers go out and see these programs because this is what we cover at budget meetings – deciding what programs to keep,” Vallone said.
