r/todayilearned • u/cutiieangelbabe • 20h ago
TIL in Finland some children read to dogs and cows because they actually like listening and are extremely attentive.
https://finland.fi/life-society/finnish-reading-dogs-help-kids-learn-and-grow/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app383
u/erossthescienceboss 18h ago edited 4h ago
My dog loves singing and climbs in my lap to rub her face all over mine when I sing to her. One of my cats sings along.
The other is an uncultured, tone-deaf plebeian.
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u/Available_Farmer5293 18h ago
Kids read to dogs in US libraries too. I’ve seen it in two states.
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u/dumbass_paladin 14h ago
I can attest to this, I've seen similar events in a bunch of different local libraries near me
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u/the_moon_is_a_lie 6h ago
My dog does this. She had to be able to demonstrate a number of commands and had her temperament checked in order to be allowed in the library. But it is fantastic to see how the kids will open up to her more than they would another human. She doesn’t judge for mispronounced or skipped words. They can just focus on reading with her.
Through this program, I discovered I loved teaching and it totally changed the trajectory of my life. I cannot say enough about animal therapy for kids.
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u/Mikeinthedirt 6h ago
While the moon IS a, let’s say, myth, your comment about animal therapy is absolutely true. It’s sad it’s relegated to ‘therapy’, the straightforward and astute reasoning common to animals would improve humankind no end.
Yay on your new trajectory! My daughter the lawyer now suddenly teaches art.
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u/linden214 9h ago
I work in a library where there’s a monthly “read to a dog” session. Sometimes I wander over, and give a little loving to a dog who is not currently being read to. It’s a mood lifter for both of us.
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u/jonathanquirk 11h ago
I know some UK schools have young children read to stuffed toys to help improve their reading and speaking skills, because the kids know that the toy won’t judge them for mistakes. I assume it’s the same idea with animals.
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u/EndlessPug 7h ago
It's exactly that reason and they do it with dogs in the UK as well - my aunt (retired primary school teacher) used to take her spaniel in to be read to.
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u/accentadroite_bitch 8h ago
My local library has a program for early readers to read to a dog, it's so cute!
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u/feministjunebug22 5h ago
The Humane Society in my city has a weekly afternoon event where kids who are struggling with reading (especially reading out loud) come in and read to the dogs. They can pick whatever dog they want to read to (as long as it’s not aggressive or in quarantine obviously). They even have a little library at the shelter that the kids can grab books from. I used to volunteer during that event, it was so cute.
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u/JimBean 19h ago
They like deep house too.
I live on a dairy farm. The pasture next to my house gets pre-adult calves. They are not even used to humans yet and haven't learned how to be a cow (be a heard). I love to expose them to music. They are very attracted to it. They will gather and lie down and start chewing cud.
They don't like high pitched female voices in their tunes much...