In Central Texas 87 percent of low-income children enter kindergarten lacking the skills needed for a successful learning experience.

Being read to is the best medicine for a child’s cognitive and language development, providing comfort for both children and their parents and paving the way for success in school. The primary goal of the Reach Out & Read™ Program is to enrich the parent-provider-patient relationship and increase reading time in the home.

Introducing children to reading at an early age promotes literacy and success in school. Practicing language and pre-reading skills early on are necessary for children to succeed later in school and one of the best ways to secure a strong foundation for a lifetime of learning. Research tells us that the developing brain is shaped by the stimulation of language, words, repetition, and reading. The Reach Out and Read Program increases positive parent-child interactions and supports low-income parents’ ability to nurture their child intellectually.

During each well-child visit a developmental assessment is conducted, affording an opportunity for the medical care provider to discuss ways the parent can incorporate reading, language, and word games into daily routines. Children are given a free book to take home afterward.

Book Donations

To donate gently used children’s books for our Reach Out & Read™ Program please reach out to our Early Childhood Program Coordinator, Alejandra Velasquez at Alejandra.Velasquez@austinpcc.org