It’s no secret that pets can make their humans’ lives happier, but did anyone know that dogs can help children learn how to read?
For the past two years the Therapy Dogs program, run by volunteers through St. John Ambulance, has been working with local dog lovers and their pets to prepare human-canine pairs to go into schools to read with children. Some of the dogs and their owners will be present at the Family Literacy Day event, from 3 to 6 pm this Friday, January 25 at Powell River Recreation Complex.
“We’re so excited to have this new highlight at Family Literacy Day,” said Literacy Outreach coordinator Emma Levez Larocque. “It’s a great program that is starting to be offered in the schools, and we’re excited that families will have an introduction to the idea at this event.”
Terry Noreault is a volunteer with the program. He said dogs are selected for their temperament, and they are tested in a number of different situations to ensure that they are suited to being therapy dogs.
“It’s important that we know how the dogs will act in unknown circumstances and under stress,” he said. “The dogs have already been tested with seniors at facilities like Olive Devaud [Residence] and Evergreen Extended Care [Unit], and preparing to take them into the schools, the dogs have been pushed that bit harder. We have to know that it’s a safe situation, both for the dogs and the seniors, or in this case, children.”
Therapy dogs have been used for years in various communities to help children relax and have fun reading.
“Generally kids really like the dogs and they can practice their reading in a non-threatening environment,” said Noreault. “The dogs aren’t evaluating their reading skills and they’re not judging them.”
Being involved in the program is beneficial for the dogs as well. “It’s something that stimulates the dogs that is different,” he explained. “They are exposed to new environments, and new challenges are good for dogs. At first my dog Hamish could only [be in the environment] for 20 minutes. Now he’s fine for an hour.”
Family Literacy Day is an annual event that is being sponsored again this year by Powell River Literacy Council and First Credit Union. Last year almost 400 people attended and Larocque anticipates a similar turnout this year.
“It’s such a fun event, and it involves so many different community members who give their time to help promote literacy in our community,” she said. “This year we have moved into four different rooms on the upper level of the complex, and each room will have a different theme—community, family, food and health. There will be great activities in every room, prizes to be won and snacks to be had. Another of the many highlights will be the unveiling of the school murals that students, teachers and parents have been working hard on over the past month.”
Family Literacy Day is a great event that the First Credit Union is delighted to be a part of, said marketing and communications specialist Tara Chernoff.
“Conveying the importance of literacy is a message that is close to the heart of our organization,” she said. “We are proud to partner with the literacy council in this event that has such great energy.”
Some of the other activities families can look forward to at the event include yoga for children, food art, painting, helping to create a community mapping story, dressing up as a pilot or a fire chief and puppet shows.
“There are going to be so many fun activities going on, it’s impossible to list them all,” said Larocque.
For more information about the event, readers can check the council’s Facebook page.
“We are so grateful to the First Credit Union, and to all the participants who help plan and carry out the activities,” she added. “This is truly a community event that could not happen without all the support. It’s fun, diverse and different every year.”
