Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Continues Children’s Virtual Read Along Series

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Jillian B. Parekh, MD, a pediatrician at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) reads a story to child as part of the Children’s Virtual Read Along Series.
Photo courtesy of Montefiore Health System

Pediatricians at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) are hosting a series of live read alongs with children during school recess. The initiative started during winter break, and will continue next week with the doctors reading books focused on “healthy, happy hearts” in honor of American Heart Month.

Led by the Office of Government & Community Relations at Montefiore, the live story time, carried out by English and Spanish speaking pediatricians, offers an opportunity for community engagement with children and reinforcement of literacy skills during the school break. The program is open to any children. They do not have to be patients of the hospital.

Children’s Virtual Read Along Series program for Tuesday, Feb. 16 at The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore.
Image courtesy of Montefiore Health System

According to healthline.com, reading to a child at any age will boost their brain development, improve bonding, and much more. It just takes a few books, motivation, and a little time.

Indeed, reading to kids has the following overall benefits:

bonding – reading provides a wonderful opportunity for a child to connect;
listening skills;
cognitive and language development;
expanded vocabulary;
attention span;
creativity;
life lessons;
social and emotional development.

Faye Kokotos, MD, a pediatrician at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) reads a story to children as part of the Children’s Virtual Read Along Series.
Photo courtesy of Montefiore Health System

The site adds that babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and even older children all benefit from having someone read to them, and you don’t need a large personal library of books to get started.

As part of the Children’s Virtual Read Along Series at CHAM, the children, in Kindergarten, 5^th grade, spend one hour listening to a story and have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the book at the end of the session.

Children’s Virtual Read Along Series program for Wednesday, Feb. 17 at The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore.
Image courtesy of Montefiore Health System

Doctors from the Division of Academic General Medicine at CHAM are involved with community based organizations that promote literacy in kids, and this new initiative is a natural extension of that work, adapted to suit a virtual audience.

It also provides an opportunity to share health education in a fun and interactive way.

Children’s Virtual Read Along Series program for Thursday, Feb. 18 at The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore.
Image courtesy of Montefiore Health System

Separately, the New York Public Library (NYPL) has also recently launched a Dial-A-Story Service, where pre-recorded stories can be listened to by children in different languages.

Meanwhile, for teens, Van Cortlandt Library issues a regular teen newsletter. The library is celebrating Black History Month throughout February with live online events and programs, blog posts, recommended reading, and a wide array of digital resources available to anyone with a library card (which is free).

Children’s Virtual Read Along Series program for Friday, Feb. 19 at The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore.
Image courtesy of Montefiore Health System

The Woodson Project focuses on empowering Black families, amplifying Black voices, exploring Black identity and intersectionality, and discovering Black influencers in science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM).

More information can be found online or by emailing vancortlandt@nypl.org or by calling 718-543-5150.

Van Cortlandt Library’s Black History Month program.
Image courtesy of NYPL

At CHAM, the next live read alongs start on Tuesday, February 16. Attached are some flyers with details of this, and future read along events.

The spring recess sessions will focus on autism, as April is World Autism Month. For more information on how to join, contact: communityrelations@montefiore.org.

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