You used to talk to your pet about the things that were important to you. Whether it was a cat, dog, horse, guinea pig, or something else, it was the best listener you knew. Now, your child can experience the comfort of having an animal listen to him. The Oklahoma City Metropolitan Library System has incorporated an interesting, fun, relatively new program for young readers. Children Reading to Dogs is just that---children reading books to dogs! Each participant,with a borrowed book or one from home, sits with a specially trained therapy dog close by and reads the favored book aloud---to the dog.

A similar program was started in Utah in 1999, when a nurse and member of Intermountain Therapy Animals realized that struggling readers could benefit from therapy dogs in the same way that patients and their healing benefited from them.  Since then, many schools, libraries, and educational organizations have adapted similar programs for their areas. "Tail Waggin' Tutors," "Reading with Rover," and "Sit, Stay, Read," are a few of the programs in place across the nation.

At this time, in the Oklahoma City area, the Village, Bethany, Belle Isle, Warr Acres, and Downtown Libraries area all featuring Children Reading to Dogs. Look into this program at your nearest participating library. Provide your reading child with the comfort of a non-judgmental friend with which to share a book. An accepting, relaxing, enjoyable experience is waiting for you both!

For more info:

Reading Education Assistance Dogs