Children's Health Topics

Literacy

The links between health and well-being and early literacy are becoming increasingly clear. Low literacy skills and lack of education are major contributors to poverty. Children who develop a love for books and reading have a better chance at success in school and in later life. Early exposure to language—whether through books, words, or songs—can help prevent problems and promote health.

Read, Speak, Sing is a new Canadian Paediatric Society program that aims to use encounters with paediatricians and other child health professionals to encourage parents to read to babies from birth. Through the program, the CPS has developed a number of tools and resources for paediatricians and other child health care providers, as well as for parents.  

Resources for health care professionals

• Visit our bookstore for tools you can use in the practice setting, including a poster, tear-off pads, and more.
• Promoting literacy in the physician's office is a statement by the CPS Psychosocial Paediatrics Committee.
• The November 2006 issue of our peer review journal, Paediatrics & Child Health is devoted to early literacy.
• Literacy Resources for Physicians: A list of national, provincial and territorial resources for physicians interested in promoting literacy in their practices and  communities

Patient education: Resources for parents and caregivers

• Our Caring for Kids website has resources for parents on promoting literacy from birth.
• Reading to Your Baby: How parents can promote literacy from birth is a bilingual brochure with information for parents on the benefits of reading and other communication.
• Age-appropriate books lists (for children 1 through 6 years) and a list of multicultural books for children have been compiled by the Ottawa Public Library.

External links 

• The Early Years Study (McCain and Mustard, 1999): The seminal report that described the critical importance of children's early interactions in shaping their development.
• Reach Out and Read: A U.S. program that promotes early literacy by giving new books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud.

Last updated: April 2010