January 2025 Medical Minute
Reach Out and Reach KC's January 2025 Medical Minute with Sallie Page-Goertz, MN, APRN, CPNP, IBCLC
In reviewing previous January medical minutes, I find themes of the pandemic, scary things and New Year’s resolutions. What is your New Year’s resolution, or hope for yourself, your family, your community? I have lots of hopes, including that all kids have the opportunity to develop a love of books and an interest in reading. Do you keep a list of books you’ve read? My 2024 booklist is 48 books long – mysteries, historical fiction, collections of essays, authors from many countries, stories from many cultures – some for pure pleasure, others to learn more about a particular topic. Books continue to serve me as both mirrors and windows!
For children, books also serve not only as mirrors (where children see others like them) but also windows (where children learn about others’ experiences/lives). Reading books with diverse stories can serve as a tool to open up conversations with children and answer their many questions about the world. Reading books that are both windows and mirrors offers opportunities to discuss lots of issues that children over time may be curious about, or have questions about e.g. why does my classmate have 2 different sets of parents; why is my body changing; what really happened during the civil war; what celebrations happen in other countries; and more!.
For our littles, those birth to 5, who are the core of the Reach Out and Read program, the gift of the book is more than just a book. It is a gift that fosters relationships between children and parents, and between children, families and their health care providers There is nothing better than a snuggle with a book for helping a child to develop a love for books, which later translates into a love of reading.
Here’s to a wonderful 2025 filled with the joy of reading to your littles! We continue to be so thankful to our donors that support this goal for thousands of families in the KC Metro area!!