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Why Read to Dogs?
Children usually have a lack of confidence
in their abilities to read. They are often intimidated and worried about making mistakes that can cause stress or nervousness
while reading. Dogs are ideal reading companions because they allow for a relaxed, and comfortable environment. Dogs never
judge. The child usually pets the dog while reading and before you know it, becomes relaxed and are enjoying reading. With
the joy of reading there is an improvement in a child’s self-esteem and confidence. Known as a type of therapy, reading assistance dogs provide a crucial key to the improvement in reading of children. Reading aloud to dogs: • Reading becomes fun, therefore
encouraging the child to participate • Develops reading skills • Teaches children how to interact with dogs
READY
TO READ! is also a wonderful program for Nursing & Care facilities, offering the elderly the ability to read aloud to
a patient and attentive companion, thereby stimulating communication, memory, and encouraging social interaction. How Does It Work? The program is simple. Participating schools and libraries pair up with literacy assistance dogs (and their trainers), for some one-on-one fun. The situation is usually very relaxed, with the dog and child sitting together on the floor. This encourages physical interaction during the session which can help put the child at ease (petting dogs has been proven to lower blood pressure and reduce stress). Children benefit from the patience, acceptance and comfort of the dog's presence, while getting much needed practice with their reading skills in a non-judgmental environment. What
Children Gain from the Reading to Dogs Program
Children have an ability to interact one-on-one with a highly skilled therapy dog (and trainer) to improve their reading skills. The benefits carry over to other areas of the classroom as well, including decreased absenteeism and increases in the completion of homework. In addition, the Reading to Dogs Program helps children: Gain confidence. Children that score lower on reading placement exams are generally self-conscious about their abilities, thus they are more likely to be uncomfortable reading in front of their classmates. By substituting their peers with a therapy dog, they are able to read in a completely non-judgmental environment, thus helping them to gain confidence in their skills. Build self-esteem. Children with lower self-esteem are more comfortable having personal interaction with a pet than with their peers. By reading to a therapy dog, children are able to overcome shyness and other hurdles that impede their enjoyment of reading and other social activities. Responsible pet care. In addition to the educational and social benefits of this program, children who participate also learn about interacting with an animal. For those who do not have pets at home, this program can teach children about proper dog care and behavior. With the help of this program and the therapy dogs, children with weak reading skills can be given a new way to improve their literacy, as well as reinforce their social skills. In addition, when children accomplish the goals of the READY TO READ!™ program, they receive a brand new book to keep which are “pawtographed” by their 4-footed reading companions. A Grrrrrreat reward! Are you READY TO READ ? Contact us today
to schedule a READY TO READ! program, or, for more information, write us at ©ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL MATERIAL IS COPYRIGHTED
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