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How Reading to Rufus Helps Kids' Self-Esteem

(Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the February 16, 2000 issue of the Paws Applause column on the Petstore.com web site. Sadly, the wonderful Petstore.com web site appears to be gone.)

By Peter Kelsch

In a nook of the Salt Lake City Public Library, a child sits with a book, reading aloud with focus and confidence. When she comes to a word that she doesn't know, she doesn't get flustered or embarrassed. Instead, she continues with the story, turning the pages eagerly, excited to find out what happens next. Her audience--a big Bernese was mountain dog named Ollie and his owner--look on with equal attention.

A scenario like this one is just whet Sandi Martin had in mind when the idea for R.E.A.D.® (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) came to her in the middle of the night. Sandi, a registered nurse and member of the board of directors for Intermountain Therapy Animals in Salt Lake City, wanted to combine her passion for reading with her passion for animals. She knew that registered therapy dogs had already proved their worth in hospitals, nursing homes, children's residential facilities, and rehabilitation centers. Why couldn't these same dogs, she thought, help to improve children's literacy by providing a non-threatening, non-judgmental audience to kids that read below the level of their peers?

Replacing Fear with Self-Esteem "As a child, I was numerically dyslexic," Sandi recalls. "I was scared to death when I had to go in front of the class to do a math problem on the chalkboard." Children who have trouble reading encounter this same paralyzing fear when they have to read in front of the class, or in a small reading group. In fact, literacy specialists acknowledge the fact that children who are below their peers in reading skills are often intimidated by reading aloud in a group, often have lower self-esteem, and view reading as a chore.

That's where R.E.A.D.® comes into the picture. "Dogs don't tease, laugh or judge," Sandi says. "The goal of R.E.A.D.® is to create a positive, non-threatening, and fun environment in which reading is facilitated." Therapy dogs provide the ideal audience for this environment.

As a matter of fact, research with therapy animals indicates that children with low self-esteem are often more willing to interact with an animal than with another person. When reading to a therapy dog, a child becomes visibly relaxed, and blood pressure decreases.

From Thought to Action After a trial run at a Salt Lake City bookstore, Sandi pitched R.E.A.D.® to the public library. A few meetings later, "Dog Day Afternoons" was born. It would run for four consecutive Saturdays, for two hours a day. All dogs used for the reading program would be certified therapy dogs, and children attending at least three of the sessions would get a "pawtographed" book.

Dana Tumpowsky, Community Relations Manager of the Salt Lake City Public Library, liked the idea, though she was concerned that people wouldn't understand what the program was all about. "initially, I was worried that the kids wouldn't show up," Dana said. "Once they saw the dogs, though, they were ready to read."

Over the course of the four weeks, children of all ages and reading levels participated in Dog Day Afternoons, with tremendous results. "The dogs helped focus the children and relaxed them," Sandi recalls. "They totally forgot about their limitations." Her middle-of-the-night brainstorm had proved an astounding success.

Plans for the Future Now that R.E.A.D.® is up and running, Sandi has no intention of slowing things down. Dog Day Afternoons will happen again in April, and there are plans to launch a R.E.A.D.® pilot program in two Salt Lake elementary schools. The pilot program will take place once a week in small groups and will focus on children with reading and social challenges, as well as children who speak English as a second language. Sandi also hopes to bring R.E.A.D.® to the Salt Lake City Housing Authority, where children will be able to read to therapy dogs and their handlers at organized latchkey programs after school.

The program isn't limited to children with literacy challenges, however. All children with a love for reading and animals are encouraged to participate.

Just goes to show you that a unique program backed by good people can create truly pawsitive results.

Peter Kelsch is a writer for Petstore.com. Before submitting this article, he read it to several dogs.

Created: July 26, 2003 by Intermountain Therapy Animals

Other R.E.A.D.® press and articles

Other R.E.A.D.® News and Information

bullet   The R.E.A.D. Brochure
Download the R.E.A.D. brochure here (Adobe Acrobat, 117 KB)

bullet   The R.E.A.D. Training Package

bullet  Press and Articles
A page of references to recent press and articles about Reading Education Assistance Dogs.

bullet  Links
Links to other Reading Education Assistance Dogs and literacy resources on the Internet.

bullet  R.E.A.D. Photos
Photos of Reading Education Assistance Dogs at work.

R.E.A.D.® Program Contacts:
For more information about R.E.A.D., please contact Intermountain Therapy Animals at 801-272-3439.