A local medical practice is promoting early literacy and school readiness in pediatric exam rooms.

Vidant Family Medicine of Chocowinity partnered with Beaufort-Hyde Partnership for Children (BHPC) in the nationwide program Reach Out and Read, in which medical providers distribute books to children during visits to their practice and advise parents about the importance of reading aloud to their children, according to a press release from Beaufort-Hyde Partnership for Children.

The practice joins other Beaufort County clinics such as Washington Pediatrics and Vidant Family Medicine of Belhaven in the effort, as well as 5,000 program sites nationwide, according to the release.

Doctors, nurse practitioners and other medical professionals incorporate the evidence-based program into children’s regular pediatric checkups, beginning at the 6-month checkup and continuing through age 5. They are, essentially, providing families with “prescriptions to read,” as children are given books to take home and read, according to the release.

“Reading aloud to young children is a valuable building block in developing their language and literacy skills,” said Jessica Triche, family physician at Vidant Family Medicine of Chocowinity. “From birth, babies are listening, looking and learning, and we are glad to have an opportunity to share books with families as we encourage parents to read, talk, sing and play with their children every day.”

In the waiting rooms, displays, information and books create an environment of literary resources, while volunteer readers entertain children and model reading aloud strategies for parents, the release said. With a special emphasis on low-income communities, families served by the program often read together on a more regular basis, resulting in children entering kindergarten with larger vocabularies, stronger language skills and a better foundation to succeed.

“We have hand-selected some amazing new books for our families to enjoy together,” said Timothy Hogan, family physician at Vidant Family Medicine of Chocowinity. “Reach Out and Read will allow our families to build their home libraries. Reading together not only directly impacts school readiness, but it also strengthens bonds among families.”

BHPC is initiating the program in the county with funding through the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge grant. As well as providing new books for children during well-child visits, grant funds were also used to create the literary-rich waiting areas for families in Reach Out and Read clinics, according to the release.

“Reach Out and Read is a successful program that is making a difference in the lives of children in our community,” said Beaufort-Hyde Partnership for Children Executive Director Lisa Woolard. “We are happy that our local health community is partnering with us in building early literacy skills and spreading the message that the most important thing parents can do to prepare their children to succeed in school and beyond is to read aloud to them every day.”

Next month, BHPC will host its annual book drive to collect gently used books to be distributed in waiting areas at participating clinics and other business and community agencies where families visit.

For more information about Reach Out and Read, Beaufort-Hyde Partnership for Children, or if you would like to donate funds, gently used children’s books or volunteer as a reader, contact Kris Bowen, literacy coordinator at Beaufort-Hyde Partnership for Children at 252-975-4647, ext. 22.