Local Doctor Makes House Calls To Read Aloud

Readership among children is down, and Dr.Walter Hoerman is doing something about it.

Dr. Hoerman is a pediatrician in Rochester, and his house calls differ somewhat from what you may think. His housecalls consist of hime reading to children just before bedtime.

The good Doctor will show up at your house, bring some books that the children have requested (which they get to keep), and read aloud. I'm just sorry I'm too old. I love to fall asleep listening to stories.

According to an article in Fosters Daily Democrat: 'Recent national studies have definitely shown this decline in pleasure reading. The San Francisco-based nonprofit Common Sense Media, which focuses on the effects of media and technology on children, published a recent report that showed a significant drop in pleasure reading in 9-year-olds. This decrease gets significantly worse as children get older. About a third of 13-year-olds and almost half of 17-year-olds reported in one study that they read for pleasure less than twice a year.

“Bedtime stories are the perfect solution on several levels. Children are shown the example of reading for pleasure. It is wonderful bonding time between parents and children. It helps ease the transition to sleep as well,” said Hoerman.'

If you'd like more information on this wonderful project by Dr. Hoerman, a man who instead of cursing the darkness is lighting a candle, go to lilaccity.com