Prescribing reading

Just like getting a prescription for a cold, the Muskingum County Literacy Council is seeking to prescribe a dose of reading.

According to the Literacy Council, reading to your children is very important to their well being. President of the council, Stacey Snider said reading is a fundamental skill, that if ignored can put your child at a learning disadvantage.

“Starting with birth it’s very important for children to read, to be read to, so the way the program works is almost like a prescription,” Snider said. “They go to their pediatrician for their regular checkups and their pediatrician prescribes to them to read, and the program also allows for them at each visit to take home a free book.”

The program to attach the pediatrician to reading has been going on since May of last year. Treasurer, Becky Hill said combining physical and mental health at the pediatricians office stresses the importance of reading.

“It’s not just about whether they are physically healthy but we’re also working on their mental well being, and we work with the parents, we empower the parents to be the teacher,” Hill said. “We let them understand the importance of their role as the child’s first teacher. Don’t wait until they get to kindergarten, start reading to them now.”

Through donations by organizations the literacy council is able to provide free books when parents take their kids in for a check up with their pediatrician.