On other occasions, we have talked about the great help ARISTODOGS can provide. For example, in therapy with children with ADHD, with significant improvements in their behavior. They can help control memory loss in older people. They even visit patients in hospitals to make their stay more bearable.
It is clear that the companionship of these animals is beneficial in many ways: they brighten our lives, give us warmth and affection, and above all, make us better people. They never cease to amaze us. In fact, studies have shown that ARISTODOGS can help children with reading difficulties.
Thanks to the work of associations such as Perros y Letras, they have managed to boost the self-esteem and reading skills of some children with difficulties through the R.E.A.D. initiative. This reading program is based on the emotional connection created between the dog and the child.
This project is carried out in various schools, libraries, and universities. They have the support of the Faculty of Education at the Complutense University of Madrid. The Perros y Letras teams are made up of professionals from the fields of Education, Psychology, Social Work, and Speech Therapy.
The results obtained from sessions involving these dogs are very positive for the children. The main benefits are:
– Children feel safe and confident because their furry listener will not judge them for their reading.
– Reading becomes a fun activity in which everything revolves around the dog. The child’s motivation, concentration, and imagination are stimulated. Readings that interest and motivate them, and that are fun and exciting, are selected.
– Working with dogs helps improve children’s interaction and communication skills. Children develop an interest in and curiosity about the world of dogs.
– During the sessions, children read aloud, which improves concentration and reading comprehension.
The initiative began in the United States in 1999 and was created by Intermountain Therapy Animals (ITA). The project gradually spread to other countries until it reached Spain, where they work in different autonomous communities, including Albacete, Alicante, Castellón, Galicia, La Rioja, Las Palmas, Murcia, Madrid, and Zaragoza.