Early Childhood Programs

Reading aloud is the single most important thing a parent can do to foster their child’s intellectual and language development. Early childhood literacy is an essential part of a healthy childhood and it establishes a strong foundation for a lifetime of learning. Reach Out and Read integrates parent education about literacy and literacy development into routine pediatric care. Little River Medical Center pediatric providers use their relationship with parents and patient to stress the benefits of reading. Providers incorporate literacy development into routine pediatric care. Each well-child visit is an opportunity for provider and parents to discuss ways to incorporate reading and language development into daily routines. A free, age-appropriate book is given out to children six months to five years of age at every well-child visit so that books become a routine part of family life for our patients.