TOWANDA (25News Now) – The last Tuesday of every month, Central Illinois kids can read to dogs at the Towanda District Library.
Therapy dogs come to the library, then families book a 15-minute time slot for their child to read to a dog. This get-together is meant to help kids practice reading. For new readers, reading to a dog can be less intimidating than reading to a person.
“They’re not sitting next to somebody who’s going to tell them everything they’re doing wrong. They’re sitting with a dog who’s there to just put their head in their lap, to be a source of comfort and relaxation while they read their favorite books or try a new book for the first time,” said Piper Arington, the library’s program director.
Each dog is accompanied by their handler, who supervises the animals to keep them on their best behavior.
Kids pick out a book, then pick a furry friend. Children read everything from picture books to chapter books. Thanks to their training, these dogs can be calmer than family pets. According to dog handlers, kids notice a big difference.
“When they go home, they say their dog jumps on them and things like that. Where these guys are so well-trained, they’re not going to jump, they’re not going to cause them any grief. [The kids] can actually pull their hair, and not even get a yip,” said dog handler Stephen Froidcoeur.
The faithful reading companions return to Towanda District Library on Aug. 27 at 5 p.m. Families can sign up by messaging the library on Facebook, calling, or stopping by the library.
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