Doctors prescribe Reading Aloud to children

There's an article in the New York Times that indicates that Doctors are beginning to emphasize Reading to Children as better than all the electronics parents give children these days.

Now, this is something that librarians have known for over a century and something that the Headstart program also emphasized.
In fact, There's a library that has a sign over the doorway to their Children's Room that say something to the effect that "The Best App for a Child is an Book and Your Lap."
(If I find that picture, I'll try to post it here.  It shows up periodically on Facebook.)

Some parts of the article say:
With the increased recognition that an important part of brain development occurs within the first three years of a child’s life, and that reading to children enhances vocabulary and other important communication skills, the American Academy of Pediatrics  which represents 62,000 pediatricians across the country, is asking its members to become powerful advocates for reading aloud, every time a baby visits the doctor.

     . . . . . and . . . . .

The pediatricians’ group hopes that by encouraging parents to read often and early, they may help reduce academic disparities between wealthier and low-income children as well as between racial groups. “If we can get that first 1,000 days of life right,” said Dr. Dipesh Navsaria, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, “we’re really going to save a lot of trouble later on and have to do far less remediation.”

Follow the above link to get the whole article.

Obama on Writing

Pam Coughlan over at Motherreader was at an Obama event in Fairfax, VA, where he was asked what he would say to young writers.

He was surprised by the question, which he admitted was one he hadn't heard before, but didn't hesitate to answer. He referenced his two books, and specifically mentioned how he wrote them himself, along with many of his speeches.

With a light inflection, he said, "In terms of getting a job, knowing how to write is a good thing." He talked about how he kept a journal, and how it was important for teaching him not only how to write, but also how to think.

But (Pam said), my favorite part was when he said, "Over the course of four years I made time to read all of the Harry Potter books out loud to my daughters. If I can do that and run for president, then you can find time to read to your kids. That's some of the most special time you have with your children."

According to MSNBC he also said "these days kids know how to text message... but when you are applying for a job they will not be asking if you know how to text message."

-wendieO (still here, studying at the Vermont College MFA program -- I'll report on this when I have time to digest some of what I've learned.)