How To Make Reading Fun for Kids? Read Aloud to Your Pet
After seeing yet another article on the reading crisis, I came across a winning formula in my research on how to make reading fun for kids. It’s dogs, kids and books! Incredibly, there are nonprofits dedicated to helping children love reading with the support of some special furry companions. Reading to with dogs (or any pet for that matter!) is a proven way of improving kids literacy especially in the early years.
Organizations like R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) was one of the first to use “reading dogs” in the classroom. The Bark and Read Foundation in the UK similarly have successful literacy programs in which dogs help children to develop a passion for reading. Both were set up for the same reasons. To support and tackle literacy problems in the U.S. and the U.K. respectively by taking dogs into schools as reading volunteers.
If you have a family pet, then your child has a built-in reading partner every day of the week. Dogs, cats, hamsters, fish, and birds all make good listening partners. If you don’t have your own, a neighbor or an outside family member's pet can also work. This idea is very simple, but the effect, both on reading levels and behaviour is really quite astonishing. Here are just four of the many benefits.
Four Benefits of Your Child Reading to a Pet
1. Self Esteem Boost
Struggling and reluctant readers often lack confidence, especially when reading aloud. When a child reads aloud to a pet, they can vocalize what they are reading without feeling criticized or judged. The animal remains a consistent listening companion. And when children know they won’t be interrupted or corrected, they feel more comfortable reading aloud even if they stumble through a word or take longer to read a passage. This helps to build confidence to pronounce words they’ve never used before and to sound out words in a non-critical environment.
2. Sense of Accomplishment
As children feel more relaxed and confident when reading to a pet, they will gain an increased sense of accomplishment with each book or chapter finished. So be sure to celebrate these reading milestones, no matter how small, with rewards not just for your child but also for the pet! In fact, you may find that your child becomes selfless and more excited about giving your pet a treat, than for themselves!
3. Teaches Patience
Reading to pets of all shapes and sizes can be fun and a great bonding experience between the pet and your child. The presence of a calm, attentive dog or pet reduces stress and improves concentration much more than a supportive adult, or even a friend. However, having a pet who is well-behaved and 100% attentive is not an easy task. So your child will need to exercise a lot of patience and learn how to not throw in the book (pardon the pun!) if the pet chooses to move to a new dozing spot!
4. Reading for a Purpose
Having your child read to your pet will also increase empathy. Through the act of reading, kids can develop a sense of purpose when they can see how animals benefit from their kindness and attention. This is even more meaningful if your child is reading to animals in a local shelter.
Preparing a Child To Read With Animals
There are studies indicating that pets (especially dogs!) enjoy being read to just as much as kids enjoy doing it. This is because dogs are by nature social beings who enjoy our company and spending time with their pack. This can include enjoying long walks together, curling up next to the family during movie night, or just listening from the comfort of their favorite corner.
The following guidelines ensure everyone starts on the right foot especially if the animal is not your own.
1. Hands-Off Approach
When working with a pet that is not your own or not familiar with you, inform your child to have a hands-off approach until told otherwise by the owner or shelter volunteer. Using a hands-off approach will keep both the child and animal safe and comfortable while reading.
2. How to Behave Around Pets
If your child does not have a pet, they may not know how to behave around animals. For example, they may not know that dogs recognize people with their scents and not their looks like humans do. So it’s important to teach your child how to correctly greet a dog and to wait for the owner to give the okay before touch the pet.
3. Keeping Calm
When both the pet and child are relaxed, you will see the best results in your child's reading. So it’s important to remind your child to refrain from making loud or sudden movements which can startle an animal. Some dogs in the shelter might need extra support and encouragement.
Tips If You Don’t Have a Pet Of Your Own
If you don’t have a pet, don’t fret. Below are ideas on other ways to engage with animals.
SERVICE ANIMALS
Check if any of the below nonprofits are in your city. If not, search online for similar charities with an Animal Literacy program. Local libraries may also have information on reading-to-animal programs. Meet some of these four-legged heroes from Battersea in the UK here!
Reading Education Assistance Dogs (READ)
READ was one of the first to use “reading dogs” in the classroom. Studies have shown that children who participate in R.E.A.D. programs have gained from two to four grade levels in reading proficiency.
The Bark & Read Foundation (UK)
The Bark and Read Foundation helps dogs to help children develop a passion for reading. It was set up to support and promote the amazing work of charities tackling the UK's literacy problems by taking dogs into schools as reading volunteers. Bark & Read works with partners around the U.K. that bring specially trained and assessed support dogs to schools and libraries.
Sit Stay Read
Sit Stay Read seeks to advance children’s literacy skills using an engaging curriculum, certified dogs, and dedicated volunteers.
The Good Dog Foundation
The Good Dog Foundation provides therapy dog services to people in need in health care, social service, educational and community facilities, and at disaster sites around the country. The highly trained, all volunteer, human/dog teams offer exceptional, healing services and promote awareness about the benefits of the human/animal bond.
2. SHELTER ANIMALS
Most local humane societies allow children to read to animals because of their long hours without human interaction. Contact your local shelters for availability, hours, and any other requirements they may ask of you beforehand.
3. STUFFED ANIMALS
Perhaps your apartment building doesn’t allow pets, or there are pet allergies in the home or reading to a live pet just isn't in the cards. A stuffed animal can serve the same role.
So which book will your child to pick to read next?
