USA: Children learn to read with dogs - unexpectedly effective therapy

(Baonghean.vn) - Immigrant children often suffer from inferiority complex compared to their native peers, especially in the educational environment. To help them integrate and overcome reading difficulties in elementary schools, New York City, USA has recently implemented a program called “Reading Aid Dogs”, with the help of dogs to encourage slow or shy readers in schools and public libraries.

Therapy dogs are friends who help immigrant children overcome their feelings of inferiority. Photo: Reuters.

Izzy the dog rests his chin obediently on third-grader Aelane Vasquez’s shoulder at New York City’s Public School 57, listening intently as she reads aloud from “Cam Jansen: The Mystery of a Circus Clown.” Just a few months ago, reading was difficult for Vasquez.

Therapy dogs like Izzy, a Havanese with bright eyes and a wagging tail, are the heart and soul of the Reading Education Assistant Dogs (READ) program.

Children learn to read more easily when they have dogs around. Children often fear being laughed at by their friends or adults when learning to read. But when reading to a dog, they are not criticized for reading wrongly.

“I love reading to Izzy because Izzy listens to me and doesn't laugh at me when I make mistakes,” Vasquez said.

Immigrant children from countries such as Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Ecuador face many challenges when it comes to mastering English as a second language.

The nonprofit Intermountain Therapy Animals has offered the READ program since 1999. To become a therapy dog, the dog and handler must go through intensive classes offered by Therapy Animals.

According to Therapy Animals in New York, a student who cannot read fluently by the end of third grade is four times less likely to graduate from high school before age 19. In the United States, an estimated 45 million adults are functionally illiterate.

In addition to helping children learn to read, therapy dog ​​programs also help children become more interested in reading and make them more excited about going to school.

“I have a hard time getting kids to go home and practice reading, but just 20 minutes a week with Izzy makes a difference,” said a teacher at Public School 57. “It’s magical.”

The READ program has now been implemented in 10 schools in New York City, with many more schools signing up to participate in this exciting program.

Lan Ha

(According to Reuters)