Dogs Help Kids Read

Dogs may be man's best friend, but now they're reading tutors, too. A nationwide program, Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.), uses the four-legged friends to help kids improve their reading skills.

According to a story on CNN.com, the dogs and human volunteers visit schools and libraries where they pair up with a child. For about 20 minutes, students read out loud while the dog sits nearby or snuggles close to the reader.

Organizers of the program figure that one of the reasons learning to read can be difficult for children is because reading in front of a teacher or class full of students can be intimidating. Students feel judged or embarrassed when they make mistakes, causing them to be shy about reading in public. Reading in front of a dog alleviates that stress, giving them the confidence they need to speak out loud and learn necessary skills.

"They get to be the teacher, the storyteller, the one who knows more than the dog for a change," Kathy Klotz, executive director of Intermountain Therapy Animals, which runs the R.E.A.D. program, told CNN.com. "[Kids] just blossom when they get to be the one who knows more than the dog."

The program might seem kooky, but numerous studies have shown dogs' positive effects on the human psyche. Studies show that when people are around dogs, their blood pressure drops and heart rate slows. In other words, dogs can alleviate stress.

Klotz says that spending just 20 minutes a week with the R.E.A.D. program can improve students' reading skills dramatically. Plus, it boosts their confidence, which helps with other social and educational activities.

"They start to speak up in class, and volunteer and finish homework," Klotz told CNN.com. "They don't want to miss school when they're going to read to the dog, so it improves attendance. It kind of just flows over onto everything."

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.