Can Dogs Help Kids With Reading Skills?

One of our two Golden Retrievers (Lexi) is a registered therapy dog, and we have taken her to diffferent library programs where kids read to dogs. Having experienced this first hand, I saw this article on petcentric that I wanted to share.

Dogs help people in many ways, but with reading skills? Yes.

Cardinal’s Manager Tony La Russa’s homeschooled daughters read to their pets to improve their reading skills. Later, La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) developed the All Ears Reading® program where pre-school and grade-school age children read to animals on ARF’s therapy team.

The program helps to improve a child’s reading skills and self-confidence by providing children with the opportunity to listen and interact with a story or read aloud to animals depending on their reading level.

“It’s a relaxed, non-judgmental and encouraging environment,” says Elena Bicker, ARF’s executive director. “We knew it could translate easily to the home setting, so we were excited to be part of Target’s and Purina’s efforts to extend this to families with kids.”

In 2007, a new book dedicated to helping children build confidence in their reading ability, was available in select Target stores nationwide. The book, Banjo Gets a B-A-T-H, was unique because children read the story to their family pet, a non-judgmental listener who is always ready for bonding time. The book was the result of collaboration among Purina, Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) and Target. It was part of a kit that had a blanket for the child and pet to sit on, and treats for the dog.

“Pets are such an important part of our families and they can help children build confidence, as well as responsibility, social skills and even reading skills,” says Linda Hennen, director in the Marketing Development Organization of Purina.