MY DOG THE THERAPIST: Why Children Should Read To Dogs

Previously I published the first My Dog The Therapist segment, where I talked about How Icy Became a Therapy Dog.  Now I'll share with you one of the programs she participates in, a program where children read out loud to dogs!  Sounds weird, right?  Believe it or not, this helps improve a child's reading skills and is particularly beneficial to kids that struggle with reading.

Icy is resting after one of the children's reading program sessions at a local library.

I was always a book worm and loved reading as a child, so a reading program where kids read out loud to dogs to improve their reading skills was right up my alley!  It sounded a little unconventional, but when I researched it more I learned that:

> Reading aloud helps children improve their reading skills significantly.

> Reading to dogs can help a child build confidence without fear of judgment or embarrassment by parents, teachers or other kids. 

> The Dogs help motivate reluctant readers who don’t like to read, or are afraid they won’t read well. 

Reading programs can take place at libraries, schools, bookstores, hospitals, even homeless shelters.

Icy in the library Community Room, waiting for the kids reading program to start. 

Here are some compelling and disturbing facts about literacy in the U.S.:

> Over 40 million adults in the U.S. don't read well enough to read a simple story to a child.  How shocking is that?!

> Nearly half of the nation's unemployed youth aged 16-21 are functional illiterate, and will have little to no job prospects.

> Children who haven't developed basic literacy skills by the time they enter school are 3 to 4 times more likely to drop out later.

> 60% of American prison inmates and 85% of juvenile offenders have  reading problems.  That is a pretty scary statistic!

Fact Sources 2014:  US Dept. of Education & US Dept. of Health & Human Services

Icy and I participate in reading programs in public libraries. Usually there are 3 Therapy Dogs. Over about an hour, each child gets 15 minutes to sit with the dog of their choice and read a book of their choosing. The kids love it and so do the dogs! Kids get a kick out of seeing a "snowdog" at the library.  They love when Icy's expression shows that she's enjoying their reading and the book they chose to read to her!  Sometimes she's so relaxed she even closes her eyes and dozes off a bit.
 

Some of the kids have never owned a dog, so it's a real treat to spend time with a dog.  The funniest thing is that sometimes the parents enjoy it even more than the kids, petting the dogs and asking questions about them while their child is reading!   

Afterwards, I take Icy home and give her a nice big Kong bone filled with peanut butter or a special chew stick! It's so much fun and rewarding, we love the children reading to dogs program!

 "To learn to read is to light a fire;
every syllable that is spelled out is a spark"

- Victor Hugo, Les Miserables

What do you think about a reading program where kids read out loud to dogs?  Leave us a comment, we love hearing from you!