Kids at Kaiser Get Books With Checkup

It could have been just another boring wait for the doctor. But instead, kids were mesmerized Tuesday as a volunteer read stories and handed out bookmarks, stickers and lollipops.

And perhaps the luckiest of all were the young children getting checkups, who were treated to a brand-new book they could take home.

Kaiser Permanente Medical Center on Tuesday started handing out the books as part of a new reading program that aims to drive home the message that reading to kids, even babies, is something every parent should be doing.

Based on the Reach Out and Read program that began several years ago at Boston Medical Center, Kaiser is using volunteers to read to children, training doctors and nurse practitioners about how to encourage reading, and giving age-appropriate books to the 24,000 children--ages 6 months to 5 years--who come in for regular checkups at its Panorama City pediatric clinic.

Volunteers are also reading to young patients at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Woodland Hills, and volunteer readers are expected to start soon at Kaiser clinics in Santa Clarita, Lancaster, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks, although books are only being distributed at the Panorama City facility.

In a busy world that emphasizes television and movies, parents need to be reminded that reading is an important way to increase their children’s vocabulary, expand their horizons and stimulate brain growth, Kaiser officials believe.

“Pop culture doesn’t instill the value of reading,” said Allan Lieberthal, chief of pediatrics at the Panorama City Kaiser. “It’s never too early to make [reading] a habit.”

The program was launched with a one-time $10,000 Reach Out and Read grant, in addition to $3,000 each from the medical center’s volunteer department and health education department, said Dr. Veena Damle, who is overseeing the program. She is hoping Kaiser Permanente will supply the $50,000 needed each year to buy books, and is also seeking grants and donations from local businesses.

When Damle gave the storybook “A Bug’s Life” to 5-year-old Sevag Leon, she noticed how he immediately relaxed and let her begin the examination. His 3-year-old sister, Sareen, also got a book before her checkup.

Their mother was happy to have something new to read to her kids.

“They make me read to them every night. By seeing the letters all the time, they start to learn the alphabet,” said Maral Leon of Sylmar, who started reading to her children two years ago. “So many kids in high school don’t know how to read. They need to learn so they can go to college.”