Importance of Reading in Early Childhood

1. Importance of Reading in Early Childhood In honor of World Book Day, it’s never been a better time to discuss the importance of reading in early childhood. Dr. Faustino Bernadett recognized this importance early on and subsequently dedicated his life to fostering a love of reading in small children. But more on that later! First, more facts about the importance of early exposure to reading: According to Raising Readers:  Children who are introduced to reading in their early years tend to start reading earlier and excelling in school compared with children who have no exposure to language and books at a young age. Reading, rhyming, singing, and talking from the time of birth has been found to profoundly influence literacy and language development, forming the foundations for all other learning. One in three American children start kindergarten without the skills needed to learn to read. Developing early literacy skills makes it easier for children to learn to read. Kids who start school with these skills carry a benefit with them throughout their school years.    Early reading has a host of other benefits, proven to improve academic performance, improve children’s grasp of English and other languages, and improve children's receptive language skills. How Dr. Faustino Bernadett Fosters a Love of Reading Dr. Faustino Bernadett and his wife Dr. Martha Molina Bernadett, M.D., MBA, value the importance of literacy –especially when fostered from a very young age. That’s part of the reason why they founded The Molina Foundation in 2004. She is the President and CEO, and he is Vice President and Treasurer, both leading this national nonprofit organization designed to reduce disparities in access to education and health. The Molina Foundation works with more than 2,500 organizations and schools, and in its life span has donated more than 5.5 million books. It also hosts workshops and programs for educators and families within schools and community-based organizations. Partnering with preschool programs, clinics, churches, schools, family service organizations, and civic organizations that serve low-income and at-risk

2. families, The Molina Foundation’s biggest success has been the Book Buddies program, which distributes new books to community agencies serving underprivileged children and families. This is a priority for Dr. Bernadett and his foundation. Long ago, he realized that children from low-income families have very few books in their classrooms and even fewer at home. Without regular access to words and books, how can children and families navigate the education and health care systems? Sadly, they get overwhelmed, give up, get lost and never achieve the reading level they should. Book Buddies has partnered with local and regional organizations to distribute more than four million books with the goal of fostering word-rich and healthy homes. But Book Buddies isn’t the only program for children sponsored by The Molina Foundation. Here are a couple of other programs it has created with the same basic goal in mind: WordUp: Children and families can achieve health and literacy skills by using simple activities and tips to prepare for success in kindergarten and beyond. On My Way to Kindergarten: This collection of hands-on resources for children between the ages of three and five is designed to get them ready to enter kindergarten.

3. As you can see, The Molina Foundation and Dr. Bernadett are both wholly dedicated to helping children get the help they need to thrive, through books and access to education. To access the Book Buddies program, schools and eligible programs can Join Our Network. Groups in this network are the first to learn about opportunities to apply for new books and other resources, which are announced via email. The foundation works hard every day to find resources such as books and educational and health resources to share. If you would like to donate, there are many ways you can help. To learn more about the Book Buddies program, visit The Molina Foundation today.