Dogs that help children read

BarcelonaMost people have heard of therapy dog programs that provide companionship to people in hospitals, nursing homes, or special education schools. The dogs' company makes difficult situations less burdensome and has shown benefits for the mental and physical health of the participants. What may be less well known is that these dogs can also help children learn to read.

Several studies show that reading skills have a direct impact on the health and well-being of individuals and society: they influence academic success, the enjoyment of learning, and self-esteem, as well as social and professional participation. However, in recent years there seems to have been a decline in children's enjoyment of reading. British researcher Sophie Hall warns that the loss of reading pleasure has consequences that extend beyond the classroom, and that the frequency with which one reads is closely linked to reading level.

In this context, dog-assisted reading programs have been created in both schools and libraries, where children read aloud to an animal that listens without interrupting or correcting. This is the key to these initiatives: the dogs create the conditions for children to feel comfortable reading without fear of being judged, and thus reading ceases to be an exposition and becomes a shared experience, without haste or judgment. Research shows that these interventions reduce reading anxiety, increase confidence, and help children associate reading with a pleasant experience.

Defend slow reading

These programs can be a valuable resource at a time when several studies warn that students in schools, colleges, and even universities are reading fewer and fewer entire books, and that reading is often done from selected fragments, short texts, or digital materials. In some cases, pedagogical strategies have emphasized being engaging or dynamic, like a scavenger hunt, but have relegated the importance of slow reading to a secondary role: an experience that cultivates essential skills such as patience, sustained attention, and the ability to be alone with oneself. In these fast-paced and fragmented times, when we know that consuming short videos hinders attention and concentration, advocating for slow reading is crucial. The challenge today is to rediscover the act of reading without haste and without the pressure of having to understand everything immediately or reach the end quickly.

Now that the holidays are approaching and it's time to focus on the present, giving books as gifts is essential because it represents giving time, and it can be an invitation to reconnect with ourselves, take a moment to pause, and rediscover our inner selves. Perhaps it's not about reading more. per seBut it's not about creating the conditions that make reading books possible again. Reading without pressure, for enjoyment, is a good way to take care of ourselves and relate to time in a kinder way. Those who have dogs can practice reading with them; those who don't now know the benefits of reading without haste or judgment. Happy holidays and happy reading to everyone!