Therapy Dogs make great Reading Buddies

James is trying something new…  Yesterday, this eleven year old English Setter headed to school… not dog training school, no – real Kindergarten through 6th grade school.  As a certified therapy dog, for the past six years James has been visiting in nursing homes, psychiatric facilities, Alzheimer’s and Dementia units, and Hospice.  This past February, he was invited to visit children with special needs – and they adored him.  As he lay comfortably on the floor while several children sat down next to him, petting him and talking to him, I saw how much he, too, was enjoying this.  Young children…  a totally different population.  His interest seemed sparked.  I began to think he was ready for some change in his life (just like people!).

Luck had it…  about two weeks later, I was contacted by Karen Rousseau from the Westhampton Elementary School.  She is a new staff member there in charge of the school library.  Karen is also a doglover.  She was calling me about starting a Reading-to-Dogs Program there at the school.  She had read the research pointing to the positive effect therapy dogs have on building a young reader’s confidence.  The therapy dog sits with the child as he or she reads – seemingly listening to every word and looking with interest at the pictures in the book when the young reader points them out to the dog.  The therapy dog is friendly and non-judgemental…  setting up an atmosphere of calm and relaxation.

Karen and I put our heads together and decided to pilot the program as an after school activity running through the end of May.  With the start of the new school year in September 2012, we hope to incorporate this special approach to reading within the regular school day.

So, yesterday, James had his official first day of school…  proudly trotting in the main entrance of Westhampton Elementary School.  He was greeted by the school principal and many of the teachers – parents, too.  He was a very happy boy!