Reading is an important feature in any child’s life, it is essential to their overall education and development. Reading aloud in classrooms is common practice, but some children lack confidence when doing so. For them, it can be difficult to read aloud in front of people. Nevertheless, it is still important to learn to read aloud effectively because it is beneficial all the way through life.
To help students, improve their confidence and reading skills, schools in Glasgow are using thereapets; dogs who are specifically trained to be included in classroom reading lessons.
Dogs Are Helping the Development of Children
Children in Glasgow schools are being encouraged to read to specialist dogs. For students at Langfaulds Primary School, reading to their visiting thereapets is having an impact. Dogs Willow and Skye have been helping Glaswegian students for the past 18 months.
How Are the Dogs Involved in Reading?
The dogs are very calm and attentive. When they are ready to listen, the dogs indicate this by resting their heads on their paws. They are highly trained animals but are still constantly monitored by their owners. Dogs who are chosen to be thereapets must be calm and obedient with a good temperament. They must also be at least one year old, however there is no maximum age limit.
A Fresh Idea that is Showing Results
Using dogs to help children develop their reading abilities is relatively new. The programme has been running for 18 months. However, services that visit hospitals and care homes have long been established.
To date, the reading with dogs programme is involved with 20 schools in Glasgow. Students have found the inclusion of dogs “relaxing and fun”. There is also the consensus that students are much more comfortable around the dogs, stating: “it’s not that the dogs are going to judge you”.
Teachers and charity representatives alike are pleased with the progress that children are making with the help of their therapets. The children are growing in confidence with each week, as they are able to read aloud to the dog in a calm environment.