The Program

As pediatricians, we are aware of the studies showing that children introduced to reading and books early in life develop skills that are strong foundations for reading. Furthermore, Reach Out and Read (ROR), a nationally successful reading program in operation for over 15 years, has illustrated that if a parent and child are given a book by a pediatric practitioner at each well-child checkup, the chances that this child will have the skills to later become a proficient reader increases significantly.

With this knowledge, the Kansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (KAAP) has developed a program based on the Reach Out and Read model. The vision is that at each well-child checkup between infancy and five, a pediatrician, family physician or other pediatric health professional gives a child an age-appropriate book and spends a few minutes discussing with parents and caregivers how reading will help their child develop. By sharing this time and new books with young children and their parents, a pediatric health professional can have far-reaching effects on the future of these children.

Currently, there are 19 approved TAP-TAM sites across Kansas in 13 counties. Each of these sites is a ROR site as well as a TAP-TAM site. The programs run concurrently. For details on becoming a site, contact Chris Steege, KAAP Executive Director at 913-780-5649 or email her at kansasaap@aol.com. You can also complete this application to be considered.

Kansas Academy of Family Physicians Endorses TAP- TAM
In September 2005, the Kansas Academy of Family Physicians board of directors formally endorsed the Turn a Page. Touch a Mind. statewide early literacy program. With this endorsement, Kansas will have pediatricians and family physicians working together in their practices to promote early literacy and bring books to Kansas children. To quote Carolyn Gaughan, KAFP Executive Director: “Books are gifts that keep giving!”

KAAP thanks KAFP for joining us in this all-important effort to introduce the “love of reading” to Kansas children.