Paws to Read

Paws to Read is back at the San Carlos Branch Library on Wednesday, October 21, at 2:30 PM. It's a program for children ages five and up to read aloud to a real dog, who makes for a perfectly nonjudgmental audience. The therapy dogs are provided by the San Diego Humane Society.

If you've got a kid who's a bit shy about reading out loud, this is exactly the kind of thing that helps. There's something about reading to a dog that takes the pressure off—they don't correct your pronunciation or tell you when you've stumbled over a word. They just sit there and listen, which lets a child find their own rhythm without worrying about getting it wrong. The session leans on studies showing that reading to animals can improve a child's confidence and reading skills, and it's a low-stakes way to get them comfortable with the act of reading aloud.

The dogs come from the San Diego Humane Society, so they're trained for this kind of interaction. They're used to the noise and the energy of a room full of kids, and they're there specifically to be a supportive presence while the children read. It's a simple setup: a child picks a book they like and reads it to a dog that's just happy to be there.

It's a great way to spend a Wednesday afternoon if you're in the neighborhood. The session is for children ages five and up, so it works for early readers just starting out as well as older kids who might still be a little hesitant. You'll find it at the San Carlos Branch Library, 7265 Jackson Dr, San Diego, CA 92119, starting at 2:30 PM on Wednesday, October 21.