Dogs Are Helpful

I'm always amazed at the many ways dogs are used to improve our lives. There's search and rescue, guide dogs, bomb dogs, therapy dogs, and now we can add one more to that list. Did you know that dogs can help children learn to read better? Let me introduce you to the R.E.A.D program (Reading Education Assistance Dogs). These dogs are therapy dogs that sit, while the children read to them. Here's how it's explained on their official website.

The Reading Education Assistance Dogs® (R.E.A.D.) program improves children’s reading and communication skills by employing a powerful method: reading to a dog. But not just any dog. R.E.A.D. dogs are registered therapy animals who volunteer with their owner/handlers as a team, going to schools, libraries and many other settings as reading companions for children.

The are spotlighted in today's Dog Age Tip of the Week. Here's how they explain it:

The R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) program pairs specially trained therapy dogs with children who are struggling with reading skills. The dog serves as an audience as the child reads aloud. Dog owners volunteer to take their trained dogs to schools and libraries throughout the U.S. and Canada. Contact your local R.E.A.D. organization to participate, or try this read-aloud approach at home.

R.E.A.D's programs are being used across the United States and Canada to improve children's literacy. What a great thing! I definitely want to learn more about this program.