“A Book Instead of a Lollipop”: How Reading Supports Children’s Health

Reading to children is not just a pleasant way to spend time – it is a highly significant health intervention. As part of the “Book on Prescription” initiative by the Universal Reading Foundation, experts from various fields – from pediatrics and psychology to education – show that books can be an effective tool in supporting mental health and child development.

New Challenges for Children – A New Approach to Healthcare

Prof. Paul Wise from Stanford University emphasizes that today’s approach to child healthcare must evolve, as the challenges are different. One of the greatest issues is mental health. Why? One undeniable factor affecting children’s mental health is the omnipresence of screens: the use of smartphones, tablets, and TVs from an early age. We need to provide children with alternatives to being constantly online and, as adults, set a good example – by spending time together in other meaningful activities.

Another reason, according to the professor, is that today’s children are raised in extremely safe and controlled environments, which paradoxically can weaken them. They lack experiences of stress, which are necessary to build psychological resilience for adult challenges. In light of the growing mental health problems among children, new strategies are needed – and one of them may be... the book.

Children have contact with the healthcare system from their first months of life. This makes doctors’ offices and hospitals ideal places for developmental interventions. Reading – as a daily routine, a source of closeness, and a tool for language development and emotional expression – can be an alternative to smartphones and constant online activity.

Reading as an Investment in Brain Development

Prof. Barry Zuckerman, co-founder of the Reach Out and Read program, points out that a child's language development depends on the quality and quantity of words heard in the early years of life. What matters is not only the number of words but also the form of communication – dialogue, exchanges, emotional engagement.

In the Reach Out and Read program, children aged 6 months to 5 years receive books during pediatric visits. Doctors and nurses teach parents how to read to their children – matching content to age: from picture and face books for babies to books that develop concepts and thinking in older children.

This supports not only language development but also relationships – so-called “relational health,” which is health built through bonds. In crisis situations, a book can be a tool that provides a child with routine, closeness, and attention – the foundations of mental health.

Scientific Basis – The Book as a Tool for Equal Opportunities

Prof. Ewa Haman from the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Warsaw emphasizes that language development begins in the womb, and the first year of life is crucial. Children must be surrounded by rich, diverse language suited to their developmental stage. Dialogic reading plays a special role – not just adult monologues, but conversation, play, and joint discovery.

Research shows that just 17 minutes a day – playing together with three books – can significantly reduce the language gap caused by social inequalities. Children from less privileged environments can thus gain a more equal start in education and emotional development.

A Book in the Hospital – More than a Gesture

The idea of a book instead of a lollipop is simple but effective – it is implemented by the Book Institute and the Universal Reading Foundation, which provide books to hospitals and medical facilities for pediatricians and nurses. Medical staff gain a new sense of satisfaction by witnessing children’s joy and parents’ engagement. These efforts are not meant to be a burden, but a part of an integrated support system – creating a space where the book becomes a tool of care.

Books can be safely used in hospitals – molecular biologists assure that paper books are safe after a 24-hour quarantine (in case of contamination or suspected contamination).

A Coalition for Children

The success of such initiatives lies in collaboration – between doctors, psychologists, teachers, librarians, creators, and caregivers. Only integrated efforts can change the way we think about children’s health.

A book won’t replace medicine, but it can be a valuable complement – a prescription for development, emotions, and relationships.

This text presents conclusions from the medical conference: “Book on Prescription – the impact of reading aloud on children’s development and health,” held on April 11 at the National Library in Warsaw.