image credit: dog intelligence, via flickr

We’ve all heard the old saying that dogs are man’s best friend. But could our furry pets also be a great reading ally for new bilingual readers? A new early literacy campaign sponsored by Target, Purina and the Animal Rescue Foundation has set out to get pets involved in family reading strategies. All Ears Reading is based on the premise that children who are learning to read need to practice in a judgement free environment, and pets make great non-judmental listeners. According to their website, “this philosophy encourages reading by creating a supportive environment for children that fosters an eagerness to read…Creating a special time to read together will help build the bond between children and their pets while growing personal confidence and skill.”

The All Ears Reading website includes pet inspired games, cartoons and printables for kids. Unfortunately, it doesn’t include any information, games or resources in Spanish at this point, but the idea is fairly basic and could be applied to any language combination. Here’s some advice from the experts on calming down an excited dog if you plan on trying this reading strategy with your kids:

• Ask your dog to lie down on the blanket. Use a treat to guide your dog into a down position by holding it to his nose and lowering it to the ground.
• Reward your dog for lying down and being calm with a treat or a belly rub.
• If your dog enjoys chew toys, such as Kongs or Nylabones, give him a yummy treat to keep him occupied.
• If your dog is still excited, begin with short reading sessions so he can practice listening quietly.
• Give your dog lots of praise after you’re finished reading.

Remember that every effort your family makes to develop early literacy skills will be well worth it, so if you think getting your pets involved will help get your child more interested in reading don’t delay!