{"id":283,"date":"2022-09-29T16:22:06","date_gmt":"2022-09-29T16:22:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jaguarviber.com\/?p=283"},"modified":"2022-12-26T15:01:16","modified_gmt":"2022-12-26T15:01:16","slug":"an-unlikely-prescription-for-good-health-read-to-your-kids-every-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jaguarviber.com\/index.php\/2022\/09\/29\/an-unlikely-prescription-for-good-health-read-to-your-kids-every-day\/","title":{"rendered":"An unlikely prescription for good health: Read to your kids every day."},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.bcbsnc.com\/2022\/09\/an-unlikely-prescription-for-good-health-read-to-your-kids-every-day\/\" title=\"An unlikely prescription for good health: Read to your kids every day.\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image lazyload\" alt=\"Dad sitting in wheelchair with his daughter in his lap, reading a book together\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"float: left; margin-right: 5px;\" link_thumbnail=\"1\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/jaguarviber.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/shutterstock_2003483405.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/jaguarviber.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/shutterstock_2003483405.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/blog.bcbsnc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/shutterstock_2003483405-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.bcbsnc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/shutterstock_2003483405-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.bcbsnc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/shutterstock_2003483405-730x487.jpg 730w, https:\/\/blog.bcbsnc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/shutterstock_2003483405-550x367.jpg 550w, https:\/\/blog.bcbsnc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/shutterstock_2003483405-848x566.jpg 848w\"><\/a><\/p>\n<section class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\">\n<div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>Ten million children currently experiencing poverty in the United States don\u2019t have easy access to books. Most children, from all walks of life, don\u2019t have caregivers who make time for shared reading activities. From an early age, children are fascinated by the images and tales that unfold across pages. When a child loses access to those pages, the long-term effects reach far beyond the issue of literacy. Health and family well-being are at stake.<\/p>\n<p>In an era when there\u2019s so much attention rightly focused on the importance of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education, it\u2019s easy to lose sight of the fact that reading is a critically important life skill. Reading is an indispensable resource for helping children and adults alike improve mental and physical health. It\u2019s a proven resource for building bonds and enhancing whole-family well-being.<\/p>\n<p>Inside a book, the individual, family and community all intersect and connect. This is why any stakeholder with a vested interest in community health should recognize the value reading brings to a holistic system of care \u2013 and the importance of investing in programs that get books into the hands of children and their caregivers.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Books Aren\u2019t Just Good for the Mind<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>True, reading doesn\u2019t get the heart rate going like riding a Peloton. But settling down with a good book does produce tangible benefits that can make readers of any age healthier and happier. \u00a0Even a few minutes of reading a day:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Reduces stress<\/em> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/229431397_Stress_Management_Strategies_For_Students_The_Immediate_Effects_Of_Yoga_Humor_And_Reading_On_Stress\">Research has shown<\/a> that 30 minutes of reading is as effective at lowering acute stress as yoga.<\/li>\n<li><em>Promotes healthy sleep<\/em> \u2013 Experts agree that turning away from screens and picking up a printed book can help people <a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/sleep-disorders\/features\/benefits-of-reading-before-bed\">fall asleep more quickly<\/a> and sleep more soundly through the night.<\/li>\n<li><em>Reduces depression <\/em>\u2013 There\u2019s a reason \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/blog\/two-takes-depression\/202108\/bibliotherapy-depression\">bibliotherapy<\/a>\u201d took hold more than a century ago as a way to help people address depression: through books, we transport ourselves into other worlds and identify with fictional characters working their way through struggles that might resemble our own. Research has linked reading to positive mental health outcomes such as heightened compassion, awareness, problem solving skills and reduced negativity.<\/li>\n<li><em>Prevents cognitive decline \u00ad<\/em>\u2013 The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nia.nih.gov\/health\/cognitive-health-and-older-adults\">National Institute on Aging<\/a> recommends reading as a tool to help older adults maintain mental acuity. In addition, reading a book can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org\/blog\/detail\/blog\/2020\/03\/25\/reading-to-escape-isolation\">help minimize feelings of social isolation<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Literacy Promotes Family Togetherness and Childhood Development<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Reading isn\u2019t necessarily a solitary act. It also promotes togetherness. Families that read together grow together, and this can help establish a firm foundation for a child\u2019s long-term well-being and success.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/5373247_Reading_aloud_to_children_The_evidence\">Research shows<\/a> that family reading time plays an important role promoting early childhood development. The simple act of sharing a story or a poem promotes literacy. It helps children understand how sound generates meaning when we talk, and to recognize the relationship between the written and the spoken word. Reading also builds self-esteem. Learning about other people\u2019s narratives can help children understand their own<\/p>\n<p>When caregivers and children read together, it is a shared experience \u2013 one that shouldn\u2019t end when the book closes, either. A good book can provoke healthy conversation, which can strengthen the bond between caregiver and child.<\/p>\n<p>On a recent visit to Fort Bragg, I found myself moved hearing about the success of the \u201cReading to Little Heroes\u201d program. \u201cReading to Little Heroes\u201d uses books as a launch pad for dialogue that can help military families through the transitions of reassignment and deployment, and the emotional impact of losing connections with friends.<\/p>\n<p>Why was I so fascinated to learn more about a reading program, which Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) supports? Because I too have experienced the healing power of a book. It might sound silly, but it\u2019s true: at critical moments in my life, I\u2019ve reached out to books for support, and they have never failed to reach back and return the embrace.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s worth emphasizing that this activity isn\u2019t just good for the child. Caregivers who engage with children through literature feel a stronger connection as well. For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/reachoutandread.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Maternal-Depression-Toronto-study-2.pdf\">one study<\/a> found that in households headed by adolescent parents, reading out loud reduced maternal depression and encouraged attachment.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Why Providers Are Writing Scripts for Books<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Given the wide-ranging benefits of reading to children, it\u2019s no surprise that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that caregivers read out loud to children at least 15 minutes a day.<\/p>\n<p>And yet, one <a href=\"https:\/\/dpfc.net\/national-read-aloud-survey-shows-parents-not-reading-enough-children\/\">survey<\/a> found that only 34% of parents were able to meet even this bare minimum. In many cases, a lack of access makes it difficult if not impossible for parents to read to their children.\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/literacyproj.org\/2019\/02\/14\/30-key-child-literacy-stats-parents-need-to-be-aware-of\/\">According to the Literacy Project<\/a>, 61% of low-income families have no children\u2019s books in the home. By some estimates, cognitive scores for children of low-income families lag behind their wealthier peers by as much as 60 percent. Put simply, not having books in the home increases the chances that children will face increasing academic challenges and dimming prospects for a brighter, more prosperous future.<\/p>\n<p>Increasingly, pediatricians and children\u2019s health clinicians have been playing an active role dedicating time during wellness visits to encourage parents to read aloud to their infants, toddlers and children. Through literacy organizations like <a href=\"https:\/\/reachoutandread.org\/about\/\">Reach Out and Read<\/a>, providers are \u201cprescribing books\u201d and helping caregivers with limited resources get access to reading materials to share with their children.<\/p>\n<p>Blue Cross NC\u2019s Medicaid program, Healthy Blue, supports our state\u2019s Reach Out and Read affiliate because we know that their engagement with children and families can have a profound impact, especially in underserved communities. <a href=\"https:\/\/reachoutandread.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Sharif2002.pdf\">Research has shown<\/a> that Reach Out and Read programs were positively associated with higher vocabulary and reading scores among preschoolers in economically disadvantaged urban communities. Similarly, <a href=\"https:\/\/reachoutandread.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Diener_etal2012.pdf\">another study<\/a> suggests that Reach Out and Read programs instilled a culture of home-literacy among Hispanic households \u201cdespite the risks of poverty, low maternal education, and English as a second language.\u201d Tellingly, the low-income students involved in this study \u201chad reading habits more similar to average or high income Americans\u201d following their family\u2019s participation in Reach Out and Read programming.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Where Children and Families Can Find Infinite Possibilities<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Sharing a book with a child at an early age better prepares them to live their healthiest, most fulfilling life. Reading can make someone stronger and believe that they can achieve the impossible. It can even help them break out of a cycle of poverty. But this is only possible when <a href=\"http:\/\/www.urbanchildinstitute.org\/articles\/research-to-policy\/policy\/poverty-can-jeopardize-the-development-of-literacy-and-early\">children have access to books, and parents and caregivers have support<\/a> to help them develop the habit of reading aloud.<\/p>\n<p>When I look back on my personal history as a reader, one of my earliest memories is checking out <em>The Monster at the End if this Book: Starring Lovable, Furry Old Grover<\/em>, where everyone\u2019s favorite blue Muppet, Grover, comes to realize that many things that seem big and scary aren\u2019t as bad as we expected.<\/p>\n<p>A lot has happened to me since those early days. My taste in books has evolved, and my own library has grown. So has my inventory of rich life experiences. It\u2019s not surprising to anyone who understands this fundamental truth: reading and life go hand in hand, really.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ctx-module-container ctx_default_placement ctx-clearfix\"><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"ctx-article-root\"><!-- --><\/span><\/section>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.bcbsnc.com\/2022\/09\/an-unlikely-prescription-for-good-health-read-to-your-kids-every-day\/\">An unlikely prescription for good health: Read to your kids every day.<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.bcbsnc.com\">Point of Blue<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ten million children currently experiencing poverty in the United States don\u2019t have easy access to books. Most children, from all walks of life, don\u2019t have caregivers who make time for shared reading activities. From an early age, children are fascinated by the images and tales that unfold across pages. When a child loses access to those pages, the long-term effects reach far beyond the issue of literacy. Health and family well-being are at stake. In an era when there\u2019s so &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/jaguarviber.com\/index.php\/2022\/09\/29\/an-unlikely-prescription-for-good-health-read-to-your-kids-every-day\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;An unlikely prescription for good health: Read to your kids every day.&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":285,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jaguarviber.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/283"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jaguarviber.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jaguarviber.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jaguarviber.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jaguarviber.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=283"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/jaguarviber.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/283\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":286,"href":"https:\/\/jaguarviber.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/283\/revisions\/286"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jaguarviber.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/285"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jaguarviber.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=283"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jaguarviber.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=283"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jaguarviber.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=283"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}