Let Your Child Honor the Dog
There is something in their curious eyes. Their rhythmic breathing. Their bodies are warm, soothing. Somehow it seems impossible to feel anxious when reading to a dog.
This is great news for kids who may need some extra help getting the words off the page. A UC Davis study found that children who read aloud to a dog improved their reading skills by 12 percent compared to children who only read with adults. Therapist teacher Rebecca Barker Bridges told KQED that therapy animals allow children to focus on the animal instead of their insecurities. This is an uncritical, hopeful audience. (The dog won’t say, “Actually, it’s pronounced ARC-tic . ” ) Furry friends benefit from this activity too — reading to shy dogs can help them relax.
There are a number of programs across the country that provide or train therapy dogs to help children learn to read, and to develop empathy and reduce anxiety . These include:
- Reading Assistant Dogs Using Intermountain Therapy Animals (READ). Literacy program with thousands of partner teams around the world. Here is the map where the teams are located.
- Tutors Therapy Dogs International’s Tail Waggin ‘. A volunteer program that provides therapy dogs for children across the United States.
- Reading with a rover. Literacy program in the Seattle area.
- Read with me Pet Partners . Training program for volunteer therapists.
- The Humane Society of Friends of the Missouri Orphanage Reading Program . A reading program designed to help accommodate dogs become more comfortable. Children sit outside the kennel and read to them.
Of course, you can also just ask your child to read to Little Buster while you keep out of sight. And if you don’t have a family dog, Bridges says , a stuffed animal can be a good substitute.