Mansfield Pediatrics gets training in books-for-babies program

The Reach Out and Read program gives a book to every child at each of his or her "well-child" check-ups, beginning at 6 months old and up to 5 years old, resulting in a collection of 10 books.

Local pediatricians have joined forces with Reach Out and Read (ROR), a national non-profit program that makes literacy promotion a standard part of pediatric primary care.

Practioners at Mansfield Pediatrics recently completed training for the ROR program.

The ROR program started in 1989 in a single clinic in Boston and is now celebrating its 20th anniversary. It has trained more than 50,000 doctors, nurses and medical staff across the United States.

The mission of ROR is to educate parents about the importance of reading aloud with their young children. Studies indicate that early exposure to books leads to school success and has a long-lasting positive impact on children.

The ROR program gives a book to every child at each of his or her "well-child" check-ups, beginning at 6 months old and up to 5 years old, resulting in a collection of 10 books.

"It is so much fun to walk into an exam room and hand a 6-month-old a book and see their reaction, to be able to show parents how to interact and play with their child with a book," said Medical Director for ROR at Mansfield Pediatrics Dr. Anne Willenborg.

The ROR program at Mansfield Pediatrics is one of several in Willimantic. Dr. Obi Maduka has been involved in the ROR program for some time, and Windham Hospital actively participates in Books for Babies, in which every child leaves the hospital with a book.

Books for Babies is supported through donations from the UConn Co-op, the Windham Hospital Auxiliary, and area businesses, schools and doctors.

The Obstetrics Department also gives participants an additional book for their newborn.

As of 2008, more than 3.3 million children have been given more than 20 million books through the ROR program, which is supported by federal, state and private funding.