Can dogs help children learn to love reading? That’s the goal of an amazing organization called Reading With Rover. Therapy dogs are a great way to reduce the stress of reading for the kids who struggle with reading.

Here’s how it works. Volunteers bring trained therapy dogs to an organization and pair the pooches with children who have reading difficulties. During the event, the children themselves actually read stories to the therapy dog! So it’s an active reading session for the kids. The dog love to listen to the child read.

The key here is that dogs don’t mind if the kid makes a mistake while reading. Dogs are unconditionally loving listeners. When kids read to a dog, they’re relaxed and don’t feel as embarrassed as they might when reading to peers, parents and teachers.

According to the Reading With Rover team, “A child that may be hesitant to read aloud to his peers is typically less stressed when reading to a dog and the dog never judges the child’s reading ability.”

This whole concept is a powerful reminder that all adults should be eager, supportive listeners as children read. Let’s not judge them for making mistakes. Let’s encourage them for trying!

In a few days, I’ll be joining the Reading With Rover Team at an event at the Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett. Come see me there and enjoy some time with some very special canines. Dogs are great stress relievers. Bow wow!

EVENT INFO: January 18, 2019 Imagine Children’s Museum, Imagine Children’s Museum, 1502 Wall St, Everett, WA  98201, United States.

For more info or other details, please contact me.