· Web viewJake was a loyal listener and didn’t flinch when his young readers mispronounced a word, or when they read too slowly. He simply enjoyed the experience.

January Newsletter

Reading to Dogs May have Benefits for Childrenhttp://www.boston.com/Boston/dailydose/2011/08/reading-dogs-may-have-benefits/VLho7fH7fecr2msqWQfiiJ/index.html

When I read this article on Boston.com, it made me think a lot. First, it made me think of all the pet dogs I have had. I love dogs. When I was younger, my brother and I had a mixed breed named Muffin. She was often the center of attention of all our playful adventures inside and out. When I graduated from college and got my first apartment, I picked out a beautiful black Labrador puppy from a litter of pups. Annie accompanied me on walks, and kept me company after work and of course in the kitchen. Most recently our family found a beagle in Kentucky that needed a home and she has become a loved member of our family. My dogs have been companions, protectors, and family members… but could they really help my children to read?!?

Our public library sponsors a reading program called “Read to Jake the Dog.” Jake is a trained dog given strict instructions to “listen” to children reading. You can make an appointment

with Jake on Saturdays one day out of each month. Jake always has a full schedule with appointments seeing children for about ten minutes apiece for an entire afternoon. In a side activity room in the library, Jake patiently listens to his young readers.

When I took my children to read to Jake they were young elementary students eager with the novelty to read to a dog. They chose special books, most of which had a dog as a main character. Jake was a loyal listener and didn’t flinch when his young readers mispronounced a word, or when they read too slowly. He simply enjoyed the experience. My children left feeling proud of their reading abilities, and eager to read to other family dog friends. As an onlooker, I felt pleased to see how happy my children were to read and delighted that they felt fulfilled.

This article reinforced the experience that I had with Jake. Not that this is meant to be a plea for everyone to take on a family pet, but a hopeful ambition to persuade you to read with your children. As parents, our role is to provide a warm and loving atmosphere so that children feel safe to read. When we make the commitment to being good listeners, we give our children the comfort and loyalty that dogs are so instinctive to share with their human companions.