Column: Dr Kenny On Books, Health & More
[Opinion column written by Dr. Stephen Kenny]
As a pediatrician, I regularly advise parents on sleep routines, nutrition and vaccines. But one of the most important — and sometimes unexpected — recommendations I make is to read aloud to children every day.
It’s not just a feel-good bedtime ritual: it’s an evidence-based activity that supports brain development, strengthens the bonds between parents and children and lays the foundation for future success. With World Book Day on April 23, it’s a good time to reflect on why such a simple act can be so powerful.
A child’s brain grows most quickly before the age of five. Frequent exposure to language at this age [particularly through reading aloud] is strongly linked to improvements in vocabulary, attention span and social-emotional development. Children who are read to regularly perform better in school, have stronger communication skills and are more likely to develop a lifelong love of learning.
But not every child has access to books, and not every family knows about the benefits of reading aloud. Programs like the USA-based Reach Out and Read and community efforts like the Bermuda Youth Library’s 1000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge help to reduce this barrier. During my pediatric residency, where I trained in Reach Out and Read, I learned how literacy guidance and books could be integrated into routine well-child visits. Seeing how parents responded to this encouragement — and how children lit up at having their own books — was a turning point in how I viewed literacy’s role in healthcare. It was also a major inspiration to continue advocating for early literacy in my own practice.
It’s not just about the cognitive benefits: reading together also supports a child’s social development by building important emotional connections. In those quiet moments, snuggled up with a parent or caregiver and a book, children feel secure, loved and engaged. This sense of closeness helps shape how they learn, communicate and build relationships throughout life.
Those types of experiences aren’t just nice-to-haves: they’re part of what every child deserves in their early years.
So, this World Book Day, I encourage parents and caregivers across Bermuda to pick up a book and read aloud. You don’t need to be a literacy expert to do it: all you need is your voice, your presence and a few minutes of shared attention each day. It’s enough to make a lasting difference in your child’s life.
- Dr. Stephen Kenny is a pediatrician and Partner at Edgewood Pediatric Services in Hamilton, Bermuda. He trained in the Reach Out and Read program and advocates for the integration of early literacy into pediatric care.
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