It is Never too Late to Learn New Skills

How Do You Leverage Your Children's Literacy Program for Funding?

11 January 2022

Warren Davis

There is no doubt about the role played by education in a child's development. Enrolling them in a school or structured literacy program is crucial for building their cognitive and social skills. The curriculum structure usually considers the child's needs depending on their age and overall aptitude. Indeed, the ability to read is a big part of any child's educational journey. Children can do this comfortably at varying speeds, and it is up to the tutors to use unique methods to help them learn as fast as possible. Using dogs to help children's reading ability is one of the unique methods you will encounter. Sadly, some educational centres might encounter challenges using this method due to scarce resources. Here's how you can leverage your institution against this shortcoming.  

Show the Value Proposition for the Child

It is normal for corporate sponsors to focus on the party at the tail end of the whole operation, the child. So what's in it for the child? The justification here centres on how the learners benefit by going through a program involving reading to pets. Some of the valid arguments here include:

• It's versatile — there are significant changes in the way people work and study. Homeschooling has gained traction as parents juggle work and family demands. Working with dogs to enhance children's reading ability fits into this juggle, considering that the dog can move between the institution and the home. The child can practice reading within the home.
• There is a variety of dogs — the objective of working with dogs is to create an environment where the child feels comfortable reading to a companion. The best approach is to have different sizes and breeds of dogs, profiled by professionals and paired accordingly with the learners.
• Improved reading confidence — some learners often become clumsy, self-conscious and jittery when they read to a group of people. Reading to a pet they are comfortable around can add a feeling of safety and help them progress.

The Dog in Session Matters

The institution pays lots of attention to the dogs used in children's learning programs. However, the interaction must go both ways, ensuring that the dogs are not mere tools for the child's success. For instance, research goes into understanding the communication from dogs with attention to the pitch, spacing, speed and volume of the dog's barks. It could signify surprise, fear, excitement, frustration or more. Understanding the animal's communication helps improve interaction with the learner for better results. Essentially, adequate funding is necessary to enhance such research and avail animal professionals on the ground at all times.

For more information on workplace donation opportunities, contact a professional near you.

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