With A Dog Children Can Improve Their Reading

In the presence of a friendly dog children can feel confident to try something new. Just look at the children at the Mamie Doud Eisenhower Public Library in Broomfield Colorado.

Shiva, being a trained therapy dog, relates well to the children and she is part of a program to help them learn to read. She spends an hour twice a week in the library, sitting at the feet of children as they read aloud.

Thanks to the well mannered dog children are comfortable to read aloud without fear of making mistakes or stumbling over their words. Shiva never criticises, never looks bored and never teases for reading mistakes.

When it comes to choosing what books to read to the dog children seem to gravitate towards dog books, funnily enough.  They either bring their own book, or choose one from the library. When they visit and read a book to Shiva, they receive a bone shaped bookmark.

More and more libraries are realising the benefit of having a canine audience.

At the West Palm Beach Public Library in Florida, Taylor the labrador is another willing dog children can sit and read aloud to.

Salt Lake City, Utah, libraries have had a variety of breeds of dog children can interact with, from Yorkies to Mastiffs. Last year more than 500 children participated in the program.

A similar program in Chicago found that reading aloud to a dog resulted in significant improvement in reading skills.

If you have a child at home who struggles with reading, why not  suggest they read to their dog? He’ll show appreciation with a tail wag, never criticise or correct and will love  the attention.