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| Icy 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:
Icy and I participated in reading programs in public libraries. Usually there were 3 Therapy Dogs. Over about an hour, each child got 15 minutes to sit with the dog of their choice and read a book of their choosing. The kids loved it and so do the dogs! Kids get a kick out of seeing a "snowdog" at the library. They loved when Icy's expression showed that she was enjoying their reading and the book they chose to read to her! Sometimes she was so relaxed she even closed her eyes and dozed 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 would take Icy home and give her a 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"
What do you think about a reading program where kids read out loud to dogs? Leave us a comment, we love hearing from you!
> 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.
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| 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: US Dept. of Education & US Dept. of Health & Human Services
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 would take Icy home and give her a 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!
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