In previous blog posts, I’ve promoted an early introduction to reading for children. On June 24th, the American Academy of Pediatrics, Reach Out and Read, and Scholastic Inc., working with Too Small to Fail, issued a joint announcement at the fourth annual Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) America . Their collaborative effort is “to raise awareness among parents about early language development. It’s the first time the AARP will promote early literacy—from an infant’s very first days—as an essential component of primary care visits.” The goal is to “ensure that doctors, parents and caregivers have the information, tools and books they need to promote reading out loud to child every day starting in infancy.”
Obvious benefit to children, right? Slam dunk to launch a lifelong advantageous skill, yes? If you follow the Book●ed blog, you’re applauding this news. But not everyone is.
There’s been a curious backlash by some (a small group, I believe, but vocal) attacking the plan. The assault is based on erroneous assumptions: that the program will “push” reading on children, that it’s enough for adults to simply talk with children, that this is another unnecessary intervention and that reading isn’t necessary. Say what?
Nothing in the program “pushes” anything on a child; apparently, some adults feel reading to a child is pushing something on them they would rather not do (my guess is those adults were never read to as children). Reading to a child is engaging them. I’ve never known a child that didn’t enjoy being read to. Of course, adults should frequently engage in conversation and activity with children; that is how they learn … and they’re instinct is to learn. Learning through exposure to literature is not just taking in information; it develops the vocabulary children need to adequately express themselves. Children emulate the adults in their lives. Those who are read to want to possess the power of reading themselves.
Exposure to reading may also expose a child’s reading challenges, which are more easily overcome with early intervention, saving a lifetime of unnecessary frustration, sadness and shame.
Success in life, however you define it, is not guaranteed by early literacy exposure; but statistics show that readers generally do better than non-readers. And the love of reading can be instilled from infancy by exposing children to the wonder of books.
The backlash against the collaborative reading effort has nothing to do with children. It says plenty about a certain group of adults. But you already know that.