A few weeks ago I saw a story on the news about a program that helps kids become better readers by having them read to dogs. Yup. You read that right: dogs.
I’d actually heard about R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) before, but I was reminded again of what a great idea this is. The program has hundreds of trained volunteer human-dog pairs in almost every state who visit schools and libraries for free. The dog sits quietly while young kids get a chance to read a book of their choice out loud to the animal. These are dogs that have been trained to sit patiently and even give a gentle, encouraging nudge with their paw if the kid hesitates over a word. (If you have the time and a dog that may be suited for this type of work, the organization is always looking for volunteers.) From what the kids say and the expressions on their faces, you can tell that they really believe the dogs are listening to them and understanding the story that’s being told.
People involved in the program say it motivates kids to practice reading and builds their self-confidence. That’s because it’s less scary and stressful to read to a dog than to read to their peers or the teacher. It’s especially helpful for children who are struggling with reading because they don’t have to worry about being judged or teased.
But I’m thinking this is also a great idea to try at home if you have a child who is a reluctant or beginning reader, and you have a pet with the right temperament. It doesn’t even have to be a dog. The family cat, a mellow guinea pig, or favorite goldfish (can you think of a more captive audience?) might make good listeners too. As for books to start with, in my opinion, you can’t go wrong with the classic Frog and Toad series by Arnold Lobel. I also love the newer
And on a related side note, why stop there? Yes, reading out loud is important when you’re a beginning reader but there are many good reasons to continue the practice once you’ve got the hang of it. Reading a good book out loud can add a whole new dimension to a story and make it more dramatic. Caught up in our fragmented, busy lifestyles we tend to forget how enjoyable it is to hear written words spoken out loud.
When my kids are older and able to read on their own, I’m thinking of starting the tradition of a weekly reading hour —where family members will take turns reading a chapter from an agreed-upon book (Harry Potter, anyone?). I can’t think of a better way to slow down, create lasting family memories, and share the experience of a good read.
we have a program like that here in our public libraries. It's called Karma Dogs and people bring their dogs for children to read to them. You have to sign up for the 30 minutes spots. It's a wonderful program and my son loved it when he did it. He wanted to do it even though he is an advanced reader just to be with the dogs! 
