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| Colin Dunlap |
The student, Colin Dunlap, recently had a birthday party and asked for books to donate to the clinic in lieu of gifts.
Dr. Rosina Connelly, assistant professor of pediatrics at USA, said she was amazed by Dunlap’s act of kindness.
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| Colin Dunlap with Dr. Rosina Connelly |
Dr. Connelly said the Children's Medical Center gives books away as part of the Reach Out and Read program, a nonprofit organization that promotes early literacy and school readiness in pediatric exam rooms nationwide by giving new books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud.
Books are handed out to children at every check-up visit. “The kids have come to expect a good read after they have seen the doctor, which is a great thing,” Dr. Connelly said. “We always try to have books to give away, and we always welcome donations from the community.”
Dr. Connelly said the Reach Out and Read program is important because it promotes reading in at-risk families starting at an early age – from six months to five years of age.
“Without this program, many children would get to school without the early literacy skills,” she said. “As a pediatrician, I do not see any other way of practicing pediatrics but to promote literacy and language development starting at an early age.”
She said that when parents read books with their children starting at a young age, children grow up with a love for reading and are ready to learn when they get to kindergarten.
“It is great when the kids visiting the clinic ask for a book at the end of the visit instead of asking for a sticker,” Dr. Connelly said. “Colin's donation is a wonderful thing.”
