Methodist in the Media

'Read-A-Thon' at Methodist Women's Hospital NICU Encourages Family Bonding While Promoting Language Development

Published: Sept. 15, 2022

At the Methodist Women's Hospital, NICU families are bonding through reading. It's part of an international movement the hospital is joining for the first time called the Read-A-Thon.

"The goal is to get people excited about reading and increase the number of times kids are being read to in the NICU," said Developmental Specialist Sheri Kimmey.

The program benefits families by bringing them closer together. Kimmey spoke of the importance of reading to premature babies aloud, saying it helps them with language development.

"It's not just hearing voices but its the rich language, the intonations that you hear when you're reading a story," she said.

KMTV: 'Read-A-Thon' at Methodist Women's Hospital NICU Encourages Family Bonding While Promoting Language Development