Paediatricians urge parents to read aloud to kids
Parents bringing infants to the doctor for routine immunizations and growth charting can expect to hear new advice from their paediatrician: Read to your baby every day. Story time routines benefit even the youngest children, helping them to build vocabulary and communication skills critical to later success in school, the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) said in a new policy statement. For babies, literacy can begin with cuddle time and brightly colored books, the largest group of US paediatricians advised. Rhyming, playing, talking and singing are among the age-appropriate activities promoting early literacy. Smart and wise "You're not teaching a two-month-old how to read," said Dr. Danette Glassy, a paediatrician near Seattle, Washington, who co-chairs the AAP's Council on Early Childhood. "Your sitting down with them makes your baby smart and wise." Experts say reading or storytelling in early life predicts how well children will do when they enter...