I would love to see someone in the waiting room all the time reading to the children. A tri-fold poster, a blanket on the floor, and lots and lots of books create an inviting corner in the waiting area. As children arrive at the clinic, they are invited to come over and read a story together. Children range in age from newborn on up, and so do the types of books and styles of reading. Older children are sometimes invited to help read a page or phrase, or to help younger ones get involved.
Some parents are very surprised at their interest.
And some kids who thought they didn't like to read find out they like it more than they thought. Clinic staff members noticed a change in the waiting room and in the children. But the kids loved it, and we saw parents continuing to read to their children in the examining rooms, much more often than before. The children were also quieter when we saw them than if they had been playing in the waiting room or watching TV, and they were excited to share their new books with us. And it was fascinating to watch them select a book to take home.