How Therapy Dogs Encourage Reading

NATIONWIDE. CHILDREN ARE FACING DAILY CHALLENGES THAT IMPACT THEIR LIVES LIKE READING APTITUDE AND FOOD INSECURITY TO HELP COMBAT THE STRUGGLES. LOCAL LIBRARIES ARE PARTNERING WITH ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP FIND SOLUTIONS. WGCU REPORTER YOUN JOO PARK LEARNED ABOUT 2 PROGRAMS IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY AIMED AT ENHANCING CHILD LITERACY. >> AT THE NEWLY OPENED TO MID COUNTY REGIONAL LIBRARY IN PORT CHARLOTTE. THOSE WHO COMMAND THE MOST ATTENTION ARE THE SILENT VISITORS CERTIFIED THERAPY. DOCKS. THE FOUR-LEGGED VISITORS MAY NOT MAKE A SOUND, BUT PEOPLE ARE ATTRACTED TO THEIR CALMING INFLUENCE LIBRARY VISITOR VICTOR BARNES LINGERED STOOP AT EACH OF THEM. >> THEY HAVE SOMETHING FOR THE KIDS TO ENJOY AND SOMETHING LIKE THE OLDER PEOPLE AS OPPOSED TO GIVE THEM THAT THEY CAN SHARE THAT THEY MAY. >> I HAVE AT HOME THE DOG. SO SO SERVICE READING ASSISTANCE THROUGH THEIR MERE PRESENCE. THE LIBRARY HAS A PROGRAM CALLED STOCK TALES, WHICH CHILDREN BUILD UP THEIR LITERACY SKILLS BY READING TO THESE CANINE COMPANION. >> VIOLENCE GRANDMOTHER, SUSIE JONES. I WAS PLEASED TO SEE HER GRANDDAUGHTER'S BUSTLE OF BRAIN ACTIVITY AMID A FOCUSED ENVIRONMENT. AND I HAD A WIFE WAS SITTING HOME WATCHING TV AND WE WANT TO DO AND THE WATCHED AS HER YOUNGER SISTER DEVELOPED HER READING KNOWLEDGE. >> I SUPPOSE I WAS HIS HOURS ARE LIKE KINDERGARTEN, BUT I WAS HER AGE. SO I USUALLY DO EVERY YEAH, IT THEY'RE GOING TO GET OUT. A COUPLE BOOKS ARE. >> I THINK THE JOB WE DO, KIM CORBY BROUGHT HER GOLDEN RETRIEVER NAMED WHISPER AND SAYS SHE CAN SEE HER DOG MAKING A TANGIBLE DIFFERENCE. WE'VE MET CHILDREN THAT. >> WE'RE FREE TO READ OUT LOUD IN A WHISPER WHEN THEY'RE READING. AND THEN BY THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, THEY WERE BEATING LOUDLY AND PROUDLY TO THE DOGS. RIGHT? BECAUSE JOHNSON NON-JUDGMENTAL. SO EVEN THOUGH WE BRING THEM AND WE HAVE TO SIT WITH THEM AND ME AND OUR HANDS ON THE LEASH AT ALL TIMES TO CHILDREN. JUST 2 WEEKS TO GET THERE BECAUSE THE MEN ARE LEADING TO THE DOG WHO'S NOT JUDGING IT NOT LEAST. >> COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS. >> ENRICH TO LIBRARY OFFERINGS. >> WHICH LIBRARIAN A BROWN IS PARTICULARLY PROUD OF. >> WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT WE REALLY LOVE. THAT'S CONCRETE IN FEET. >> A CHARLOTTE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM. PREPARES ALLEGES AND THEY HAVE A A TEARY, A COACH AND SON WHEELS TO AN END. IT'S A SCHOOL BUS THAT'S PAINTED LIKE A COW WITH IT. THE HORN MS. IT'S REALLY Q A TRAVEL HERE AND BRING LUNCHES ITS CAN. AND GET A FREE SCHOOL LUNCH. JUST 38 HERE UNDER TO GET A LUNCHEON, PARTICIPATE. THEY EAT HERE ON THE PREMISES AND THEN WE TRY TO GET THEM TO CHECK OUT BOOKS AND, YOU KNOW, PARTICIPATE IN OR AN R RATING >> CHILD LITERACY IS AT THE FOREFRONT AFTER LIBRARY SKULL AND LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS MAKE THIS MISSION POSSIBLE IN THESE WAYS. LIBRARIES PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH FOOD FOR THE STOMACH, AS WELL AS FOOD FOR THE BRAIN FOR WGCU NEWS, I'M YON JOO PARK. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR