In February pediatric residents at Doernbecher Children's Hospital began giving infants and toddlers a free book every time they come in for well-child checkups. Residents in the Department of Pediatrics at OHSU's School of Medicine hope to increase the number of literate children by providing books to young children early in their development. That same report found that 23 percent of Oregon 12th graders do not read at the basic level.
Pediatricians recommend that children come in for routine checkups from birth through adolescence.
During these examines pediatricians assess how the child is developing and give parents safety advice on such topics as seatbelts, bike helmets and how to keep poisons away from children. During their well-child checkup from 6 months to 5 years of age residents will give children books that are specific to their level of reading development. Together, Erika Kempler, M.D., and her young patient probe the printed page. By the time a child is ready to start school they will have nine books to get them off to learning on the right foot. In addition, volunteers, most of whom are medical students, will read aloud to children in the waiting area of the clinic to encourage parents and children to share in the joy and value of reading aloud.