Reach Out and Read

09/03/2026

A new article from Education Week explores the decline of a simple practice that can support early literacy, requires no special tools, and often gets young children laughing and joining in: reciting nursery rhymes.

As these familiar songs and verses become less common, children may have fewer early opportunities to play with rhythm, rhyme, and new words — experiences that shape future reading and verbal skills.

Learn why this oral tradition is valuable and what children lose if it fades.

Nursery rhymes aren't just a quaint nod to the past: They're an engaging way to grow literacy skills.

09/03/2026

Grandparents Day is Sept. 13! Help your little one celebrate a grandparent or grandfriend who makes their world a little brighter with ideas from Generations United campaign.

From sharing stories to spending time together, there are plenty of ways for kids to join in.

How will your family this special holiday?

Everyone can help make Grandparents Day a little grander this year. Official Grandparents Day Take Action Guide: Are you ready to ? Check out the official Grandparents Day Take Act…

09/02/2026

Reading with a young child can feel simple, but the science is clear: Their brain is growing, your relationship is getting stronger, and the foundation for learning and development is taking shape.

The story may last a few minutes. What it builds lasts much longer. 📖

09/02/2026

The first few weeks of preschool ask young children to navigate meeting new people, routines, spaces, and goodbyes all at once. Some children enter eagerly, while others require more attention and care to adjust.

Edutopia shares five strategies that can help children feel safe, valued, and ready to settle into the school year.

In the first few days and weeks, it’s important to make sure young children feel that they are valued and that they belong.

09/01/2026

Research reviewed by the Children's Equity Project at Arizona State University points to an important finding: Children benefit when families continue speaking and strengthening their home language as they learn English.

A strong home language can support English development, literacy, and broader learning. Explore how families can strengthen languages at home through storytelling, conversation, songs, and word play.

Learn why home language matters for bilingual children and how supporting a child's first language can strengthen English, literacy and learning.

09/01/2026

Healthy development starts with healthy relationships. The simple yet powerful act of reading with a young child strengthens connections that can last a lifetime.

Reach Out and Read gives families the tools and guidance to read aloud together, making pediatric care a place where relationships, learning, and healthy development grow together. 🩺💛

08/31/2026

Explore five new stories that invite young readers to discover the outdoors — from gardening to seaside adventures, camping trips, and the beauty of nature.

Read together, then keep the conversation going on a walk, at the park, or during playtime outside. Which outdoor adventure will your family explore next? 📖🌿

08/31/2026

“When a device fills every quiet moment, children have fewer opportunities to initiate conversation, invent their own play, or explore their surroundings.”

In a new article for Psychology Today, Dr. Terri McFadden, Medical Director of Reach Out and Read Georgia and President-Elect of the American Academy of Pediatrics, shares why conversations about screen habits need to begin long before kindergarten — and how caregivers can protect the everyday interactions young children need to learn, connect, and grow.

As technology becomes an even bigger part of childhood, protecting time for conversation, play, reading, and exploration matters more than ever.

Today’s children are growing up surrounded by screens, so it's more important than ever to protect time for reading, play, and human connection, starting from birth.

08/28/2026

For new parents, the first year brings as many questions as milestones.

In a new Healthy Children podcast episode, Dr. Diane Arnaout talks through the early days of parenthood, making sense of parenting advice online, and learning to trust your instincts as a caregiver. Listeners will also hear practical guidance for building confidence during a year filled with firsts.

Dr. Diane Arnaout joins host Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez to share practical tips ​on caring for a baby during the first year of life. They explore the stresses of the early weeks of parenthood, the impact of social media on parental anxiety and how caregivers can better trust their instincts.

08/28/2026

The foundation for learning begins long before a child enters the classroom.

Reach Out and Read reaches families early on, providing books and guidance during pediatric care to support the rapid development that happens from birth to 5.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach at a Reach Out and Read clinic. Clinicians use each visit to understand where a child is developmentally and make recommendations tailored to each child and family, across ages, languages, cultures, and ZIP codes. 📖💙