Looking to get the young readers in your house to practice their skills in a way that doesn’t feel like school? Or maybe you want to find a way for you and your pet to give back to the community? Whatever your desire, check out some of the ways therapy animals are helping students become more confident readers while bringing smiles to faces all across Middle Tennessee.
Reading with Reggie
Visit Williamson County Library’s Fairview Branch for their “Reading with Reggie” program every Tuesday in August from 4 – 5 pm. Reggie is the certified therapy dog of a local Fairview resident and loves to help kids with their reading. Kids 12 years old and under are invited to come practice their skills by reading to him. The Fairview branch is located at 2240 Fairview Boulevard, Fairview. For more information, visit Wcpltn.org and see what other libraries in Williamson County also offer the reading with dogs program.
Book Buddies
Another great place for young readers to practice their reading while also learning to give back is at Williamson County Animal Center’s “Book Buddies” program. Children ages 5 – 12 (accompanied by an adult) can read to the cats and dogs at the facility. This provides them with companionship and social interaction to make them more acclimated to people and, in turn, become more adoptable. They can read to cats in a more open environment where the cats can wander, or for dogs, they can read to them from outside their cages. This is the perfect way to help improve your child’s reading confidence and keep their skills sharp as they transition into the next school year. All children and an accompanying adult must attend a short class to receive training on how to interact with the cats and dogs in this program before beginning. For more information, visit Adoptwcac.org
Music City Pet Partners
Music City Pet Partners is an organization that takes animals for visits to hospitals, schools, libraries, and senior living facilities, as a way to improve people’s health and well-being through bonding with animals. To learn more about signing yourself and your animal up to become a therapy team or to request a visit with a therapy animal at your organization, visit MusicCityPetPartners.org
READing Paws
READing Paws is a national program that puts together teams of literacy mentors and qualified therapy animals to visit libraries, schools, etc., to help children with their reading. For more information on getting your dog involved and becoming a therapy team, visit ReadingPaws.org
"This is the perfect way to help improve your child’s reading confidence and keep their skills sharp."