Did you know the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) actually has an official stance encouraging pediatricians to talk with their families about the importance of daily, out-loud reading to your children (Literacy Promotion: An Essential Component of Pediatric Primary Care Practice).

Sometimes, when the AAP releases statements like this, that seem like common sense, I have to resist the urge to roll my eyes and tell myself, “Ok, thanks for stating the obvious.”

This one, while perhaps common sense, is very important. 

Why?

Despite the fact that I think most parents would agree with the importance of reading to your children, studies show that only about half of children are read to aloud every day. In addition, reading to children sets the stage for their speech development which helps them do better in school. So what are the reasons for not reading to your child?

1. I don’t have time.

We aren’t asking that you read “War and Peace” every night with your 6 month old. I’m hoping for about 5-10 minutes of reading (1-2 short books). Ultimately, if you don’t have that much time then just read for the amount of time that you can, any amount is better than none. Our kids really like to read during meal times as well, it tends to keep them eating and moving and keep their fighting about food to a minimum. If you routinely watch TV during meals, it’s a much better alternative.

2. If they don’t understand, it doesn’t matter.

Reading to your children even before they are speaking is an important part of teaching them language. Babies learn the sounds of language long before they know any words. The number of words a child hears before they start kindergarten is a strong predictor of how well they will do in school. This is why it’s not only important to read to them, you should also spend time talking with them all throughout the day.

3. It’s so boring.

This one I can really sympathize with. There are nights where I feel like I deserve an Oscar for my dramatic performances … but there are also nights where I drone on in monotone and doze off between pages. It’s important to really engage your children as best you can, based upon their age. Have them help you count objects, letters or words on the page. If it’s a book you’ve read 1,000 times, read the wrong word and let them correct you (“Ohhhh … daaaadd, you’re so silly!”). You can be selfish here. Do whatever it takes to make it interesting for you, it will make it easier for you to do it and it’s likely that your child will enjoy it more as well.

4. They don’t even seem to enjoy it.

Let’s face it … sometimes they don’t even seem like they care. Your 12 month old is crying because he or she is tired but doesn’t want to go to bed. My youngest would rather chew on a book than have you read it. My oldest child would often rather be reading his own book than listening to me. But, I press on. Reading is not only beneficial for the language development, but studies show that it helps to develop more nurturing parent-child relationships. Perhaps more importantly, is what it does for me. After a hard day at work, getting home to referee the boys fight for 2 hours, it’s nice to have some one-on-one time with each child to remember that I still like them.

5. No one ever told me it was important.

Well, you can’t use this one anymore can you? Just in case you missed the message, it’s important.

Start by making a plan to read to your child every day for the next month.

Get a calendar out and mark off the days. 

I promise it will benefit your child for years to come.

Resources For Families

• AAP Tips for Families for Early Reading and Literacy
• Is Your Child Ready to Read?
• 5 Ways Parents Can Improve Their Child's Vocabulary
• The Unique Challenges of Raising a Highly Gifted Child

October is Health Literacy Awareness Month. What is health literacy?

Health literacy is being able to find, understand, and use health-related information to make good health care decisions for you and your family.

We get health information from doctors and nurses, medical websites or apps, and even conversations with family and friends.

Some of it can be written or spoken in a way that is confusing. What can you do if you don’t understand?

Take charge! And take this pledge with me:

I, Dr. Smith, pledge to help with my patients with health literacy by:

1.Listening to my family’s story fully before jumping in to ask questions or provide information.

2.Speaking in normal language, not doctor speak and taking extra time for confusing or difficult topics.

3.Researching and sharing good medical websites and apps with families.

I, (insert name here), pledge to help my doctor with health literacy by:

1.Preparing the story of my child’s illness or making sure the person who brings the child in has all the information.

2.Asking my doctor to explain words or terms that I don't understand.

3.Reading information from credible sources and bringing that information to visits for discussion.

Over the summer when I started to wonder if my soon-to-be first grader was having trouble seeing, I shocked myself (and my wife) by actually picking up the phone and calling to schedule him an appointment to have his eyes checked.

Our poor little guy was having to get up to walk over to the TV to check the score of the Rangers and was asking mom what time it was from the back seat, when he used to give us grief every minute we were late for church.

Here are three tips that might alert you to a vision problem in your child:

1. Sitting too close to the TV

2. Eye rubbing or watering

3. Squinting, closing one eye or tilting their head to see better

If you aren’t sure or have concerns, get your child’s eyes checked.

Vison screening should also be a part of school age checkups for your child. I have picked up plenty of kids with vision problems for which parents had no concerns.

Fortunately, we got our son checked out and in glasses just in time for the Rangers to make their second-half run. (Maybe it’s not such a bad thing he couldn’t see very well before the All-Star Break.)

Now that you’ve identified your child’s problem and he or she requires glasses, here are some tips for getting your child to actually wear them.

1. Make glasses cool. Talk positively about them at all times.

2. Make glasses routine. It’s just part of the day. On in the morning, off at night.

3. Make glasses helpful. Point out how much easier things are when your child can see.

4. Make glasses comfortable. Don’t pick out an uncomfortable pair and make sure the fit is right.

A great way to help children learn to listen and talk is reading aloud. Reading aloud to that growing baby in utero is a jump start to listening, talking and future reading. Reading aloud to children of all ages has huge benefits.

Research on reading aloud to children tells us that it:

• Is the single most important thing to help a child get ready to read and learn.
• Helps a child learn more, unique words. Children who know more words do better when starting kindergarten.
• Helps a child’s brain develop. Language development is vitally important from birth to 3 years.
• Helps a child love to read.
• Helps a child learn.
• Helps parents bond with their child.
• Sets an example for children that reading is important and fun.

The first three years of a child’s life is the most important time for learning. Reading aloud to children boosts their vocabulary, listening and talking skills.

Will watching TV help my child learn?

A parent may ask, “My child loves to watch TV for several hours a day! What is wrong with that?” Watching a little bit of TV isn’t a bad thing. It’s what a child misses by watching many hours of TV. It can cause problems. Children may miss playing games, drawing, hobbies, playing outside and talking with friends or family. Those activities help children learn about getting along with others, problem solving and having fun. Playing and having fun are main ways that young children learn.

Watching TV doesn’t require any interaction with others. It is passive, not active. The American Academy of Pediatrics says no more than 10 hours a week of TV, and no TV for children less than 2 years. This is based on research. When children watch more than 10 hours a week of TV, school scores start dropping.

How long should read aloud time be?

Families lead very busy lives in today’s world. It’s very easy to hand over smart phones or tablets to children for easy, engaging, digital entertainment. Children may learn to swipe screens before learning to turn a page. Reading becomes less important. There is not a set amount of time to read aloud to children. Even 15 minutes a day can make a big difference. Here’s a great example of how reading aloud can affect a child during the first 5 years:

15 minutes every day x 365 days x 5 years = 27,375 minutes OR 456.25 hours of reading aloud. That means the child hears reading aloud 456 hours before starting kindergarten. That’s a great jump-start to being a good reader.

Some ideas for fitting reading aloud into your day and week:

• Visit your local library. Get a free library card for you and your child. Check out books weekly. It’s FREE!
• Visit read aloud story time at the library.
• Read aloud at breakfast time.
• Keep books in the car to read while waiting at appointments.
• Make bedtime book reading a family tradition.
• Have a family story time every week.
• Keep waterproof books in the bath tub for a quick read during bath time.
• Read together as a family every day.
• Have older siblings read aloud to younger siblings.

Reading aloud should be FUN and FREQUENT! It is never too early or too late to start reading aloud to your child.

Resources:

1.Jim Trelease on Reading: www.trelease-on-reading.com

2.Read Aloud 15 Minutes: www.readaloud.org

3.Reach Out and Read: http://reachoutandread.org

4.Reading Rockets: www.readingrockets.org 

References:

1.Anderson, Richard C., http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED253865.pdf

2.http://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/aap-health-initiatives/Pages/Media-and-Children.aspx.

3.www.trelease-on-reading.com/rah-ch9.html

4.http://www.wonderbabiesco.org/UserFiles/File/Graven%20and%20Browne%20Auditory%2008.pdf

About the author

Becky Clem, MA, CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT, is a Rehab Services education coordinator at Cook Children's. Cook Children's offers four types of therapy plans, and tailor them for your child's individual needs. Cook Children's services and specializations include:

• Audiology
• Cochlear implant
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Speech therapy
• Transitional care
• SPORTS

If you have been in for a well check this summer, you may have heard me ask your child this question. Why do I ask?  I ask because I am genuinely interested. I have gotten some great recommendations of books for my children to read and books to read aloud as a family from all of you. I also ask because I want your child to know that the adults around them think reading is important and I am hoping that this small question may help them grow in a love of reading. So as we share book titles together this summer, here are some ideas to get and keep your kid reading.

For toddlers that won't sit still: Don't worry about reading the entire story to them. Look at the pictures, point things out on the pages, have them find things on the pages. The Richard Scarry books are great for this and we read them over and over when my kids were this age.

For the school age child that maybe doesn't love reading yet: Get them books on topics they love. Does your boy love Legos? Then Lego® books. Does your girl love animals? Then try National Geographic kids’ animal fact books. They have lots of pictures and fun, short reading sections. Is your kid funny? Then try a joke book – be aware that this leads to the most ridiculous knock-knock jokes being read aloud to you.

For your older school age or teen child: Be a two-person book club. I have done this a few times with my older child and he loves it when I read a book at the same time he is reading it, so he can talk to me about the story. He is so excited to share with another person what is happening with the characters and what may happen next.

For all of your kids: Try reading magazines not just books. Sign your kids up for a reading incentive program. The public library and Braum's both have programs. Do you read on your phone? I do it all the time. Let your kids know that you are reading, not playing the latest version of Angry Birds or Minecraft.

I want your kids to love to read the same as I want my own kids to love to read. So share with me the great books you are reading together. I hope to get out on the patio and read and if I am lucky my boys will be right there next to me doing the same.

Happy summer reading!

Dr C

Vanessa Charette, M.D.

Part 2 - Elementary and Middle School

I'd guess the titledidn't fool as many of you as it did in Part 1. I probably would've clicked angrily on the link and went to disprove the fact that homeschooling is for everyone too, but I assume that the rest of you who clicked on today are actually interested in how you can help your child learn. Remember these posts are all about the fact that despite the fact that we delegate a lot of our role of educating our children to the school we choose to send them to, the responsibility of their education still falls on us, the parents.

I thought of two different things to post about. First I considered writing about feeding your child breakfast. Several studies show that doing so will increase their grades and especially their ability to pay attention throughout the morning. So, feed your child breakfast. Moving on.

One of the major predictors of success in school and in the future for our children is our involvement in their school and their education.

The school will do what they can, but they are limited by many factors:

1)   Your child is not the only child in class. Vying for the teacher's attention can be difficult.

2)   Your child may learn faster or slower than the average person in class and adjustments are often difficult.

3)   Schools have limited financial and personnel resources that don't allow for curriculum to be differentiated for each student.

So, how do we compensate for each of the above deficiencies? We get involved. More specifically, we get involved in the right way. A study done at the University of New Hampshire showed that it would take $1,000 per student per year of extra spending for the school  to achieve the same results as parent involvement.

A comprehensive review of parent involvement was released by the National Center for Family and Community Connections with Schools in 2002 called "A New Wave of Evidence." I know it's 10 years old, but it's so comprehensive, I couldn't imagine using anything else.

So, how does parental involvement improve performance?

Here are just a few of the ways (New Wave of Evidence-pg 13):

•      Earn higher grades and test scores, and enroll in higher-level programs.
•      Be promoted, pass their classes, and earn credits.
•      Attend school regularly.
•      Have better social skills, show improved behavior, and adapt well to school.
•      Graduate and go on to postsecondary education.

But, how do you do it right?  As with anything, you can even mess up being involved in your child's school and education if you don't think about what you're doing.

Here's what studies say actually works (New Wave of Evidence-pg 87):

     1) Provide a stimulating literacy and material environment.

     2) High expectations and moderate levels of parent support and supervision.

     3) Monitoring of TV viewing and homework completion.

     4) Joint learning activities at home.

     5) Emphasis on effort rather than ability.

     6) Promoting of independence and self-reliance.

Let's go through each for a little discussion:

1) Provide a stimulating literacy and material environment - Have stuff around that stimulates your child to want to learn. This is simple in all stages of life but you just have to be careful to provide it. Keep books easily accessible in the current reading level and one reading level above your child so that they can explore what’s next. Read in front of them (no child is going to read in the room where you are watching TV). Keep art supplies, building toys and other items easily accessible and limit screen time so that your kids have time to play with them.

2) High expectations and moderate levels of parent support and supervision - Don't hover over their shoulder the whole time they are doing homework but check in frequently to make sure they are on task and don't have questions for you. I usually get my son started on something and then walk away and come back a few minutes later. He gets a lot more done when I'm not standing there and he doesn't rely on me to help him along the way.  My favorite thing to see him do is when I come back and he says, "I had a little trouble with this one so I moved on to the next one till you could help me." “Awesome, bud, let’s do it.”

3) Monitoring of TV viewing and homework completion - Set a rule for the TV and homework completion.  I guess it doesn't have to be, but I would think that having the same rule for all the children in the house would be helpful.  You could choose to have no TV until homework is complete or maybe one show (15-30 minutes) before you start.  Sometimes that break can be a refresher for a kid who is worn out from a long day at school but for other kids is impossible to get them back on task.  You need to decide what works best for your family and stick to the plan.

4) Joint learning activities at home - This is where you get to be creative. You can read my post called: Your Child is Gifted to get more advice on how to do this well.

5) Emphasis on effort rather than ability - You can see my entire post about this: You're So Smart.

6) Promoting of independence and self-reliance  -Remember that your goal is to get your child to be independent and ready to move off and do something else when they finish high school. It's hard to remember to think about it when they are young but giving them opportunities to be independent now when you are still close by is a great way to teach them to make better decisions later.

While we're at it, here are some things you should not do whenever it comes to being involved with your child's education:

1) Don't do their homework or projects for them. It's OK to help them if they are choosing wisely but it's also OK to let them make a bad grade if they are relying on you to do it all for them.

2) Don't ever tell you child's teacher that they are "bored" because the class is to easy. It may be completely true, but after saying it, you have eliminated almost any chance you had of working to get a solution to the problem.  Some other things you could say: How can we challenge him/her? Is there some way we could change x/y?

3) Don't go above your child's teacher to the principal unless you've tried to work with the teacher first. It actually causes a problem for everyone involved. The principal doesn't like it, the teacher doesn't like it and you're unlikely to get the results you desire.

4) Don't reward solely for grades. Everyone handles grades a little differently. Some families dole out huge money for good grades, some none and others everywhere in between. Rewarding for grades alone sets them up to choose easier classes and cut corners (cheat?) to get better grades.

Let’s be involved with our kids’ schools, but do it in the right way. The results could be amazing!

About the author

Justin Smith, M.D., is a Cook Children's pediatrician in Lewisville . He attended University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School and did his pediatric training at Baylor College of Medicine. He joins Cook Children's after practicing in his hometown of Abilene for four years. He has a particular interest in development, behavior and care for children struggling with obesity. In his spare time, he enjoys playing with his 3 young children, exercising, reading and writing about parenting and pediatric health issues.

Get to know Justin Smith, M.D.

Justin Smith, M.D., is a pediatrician in Trophy Club  and the Medical Advisor for Digital Health for Cook Children's in Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Smith is an experienced keynote speaker for a variety of topics including pediatric/parenting topics, healthcare social media and physician leadership. If you are interested in having Dr. Smith present to your conference or meeting, please contact him at thedocsmitty@cookchildrens.org.

He has an active community on both Facebook and Twitter as @TheDocSmitty and writes weekly for Cook Children's checkupnewsroom.com. He believes that strategic use of social media and technology by pediatricians to connect with families can deepen their relationship and provide a new level of convenience for both of their busy lifestyles. Dr. Smith’s innovative pediatric clinic, a pediatric clinic “designed by you,” open now. Click to learn more. To make an appointment, call 817-347-8100.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a statement recently encouraging pediatricians to talk with their families about the importance of daily, out-loud reading to your children (Literacy Promotion:  An Essential Component of Pediatric Primary Care Practice). Sometimes, when the AAP releases statements like this, that seem like common sense, I have to resist the urge to roll my eyes and tell myself, “Ok, thanks for stating the obvious.”

This one, while perhaps common sense, is very important. 

Why?

Despite the fact that I think most parents would agree with the importance of reading to your children, studies show that only about ½ of children are read to aloud every day.  In addition, reading to children sets the stage for their speech development which helps them do better in school. So what are the reasons for not reading to your child?

1. I don’t have time.

We aren’t asking that you read “War and Peace” every night with your 6 month old.  I’m hoping for about 5-10 minutes of reading (1-2 short books).  Ultimately, if you don’t have that much time then just read for the amount of time that you can, any amount is better than none.  Our kids really like to read during meal times as well, it tends to keep them eating and moving and keep their fighting about food to a minimum.  If you routinely watch TV during meals, it’s a much better alternative.

2. If they don’t understand, it doesn’t matter.

Reading to your children even before they are speaking is an important part of teaching them language.  Babies learn the sounds of language long before they know any words.  The number of words a child hears before they start kindergarten is a strong predictor of how well they will do in school. This is why it’s not only important to read to them, you should also spend time talking with them all throughout the day.

3. It is so boring.

This one I can really sympathize with. There are nights where I feel like I deserve an Oscar for my dramatic performances … but there are also nights where I drone on in monotone and doze off between pages. It is important to really engage your children as best you can, based upon their age. Have them help you count objects, letters or words on the page.  If it’s a book you’ve read 1000 times, read the wrong word and let them correct you (“Ohhhh … daaaadd, you’re so silly!”).  You can be selfish here.  Do whatever it takes to make it interesting for you, it will make it easier for you to do it and it’s likely that your child will enjoy it more as well.

4. They don’t even seem to enjoy it.

Let’s face it … sometimes they don’t even seem like they care. Your 12 month old is crying because he or she is tired but doesn’t want to go to bed. My 2 year old would rather chew on a book than have you read it.  My 5 year old would often rather be reading his own book than listening to me. But, I press on. Reading is not only beneficial for the language development, but studies show that it helps to develop more nurturing parent-child relationships.  Perhaps more importantly, is what it does for me. After a hard day at work, getting home to refereeing the boys fights for 2 hours, it’s nice to have some one-on-one time with each child to remember that I still like them.

5. No one ever told me it was important.

Well, you can’t use this one anymore can you?  Just in case you missed the message, it’s important.

Start by making a plan to read to your child every day for the next month.

Get a calendar out and mark off the days. 

I promise it will benefit your child for years to come.