Paws for Tales is helping kids become stronger readers

Furry friends are offering kids at San Mateo County Libraries a helping “paw” when it comes to learning how to read with confidence. The Paws for Tales program invites volunteers and their therapy dogs to join a 10-minute reading session with kids to help them practice their reading skills in a judgment-free environment.

The Peninsula Humane Society started the program in 2008 and has since partnered with local schools, county jails and high school English learning programs, said Marivic Dizon, coordinator of the PHS Pet Assisted Therapy Program. They are currently working with the San Mateo County Libraries in 18 locations. 

Petting a dog while reading not only helps create a positive attitude toward reading but it also lowers blood pressure, heart rate and stress levels, and increases oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone.”

“There continues to be a reading gap for many of our children in San Mato County, especially at the third-grade level,” said Carmen Letona-Adams, community manager of Portola Valley and Woodside libraries. “A lot of studies show that if a child is not at reading level in third grade, it seriously impacts their ability to catch up well into high school.”

The libraries are aiming to make reading more accessible and entertaining to kids in kindergarten through third grade to combat the reading gap. Rather than reading in front of a teacher in a classroom, the Paws for Tales program allows young readers to feel more comfortable sounding out words and working through any reading struggles.

Parents are also learning how to best support their children in their reading journey by observing how the program model works, said Letona-Adams. 

“As a parent or caregiver, when a child is reading to you, you want to correct them. You almost can’t help it. But the dogs and volunteers don’t do that. They allow the child to read,” she added. 

While the program is helping children become strong and confident readers, it’s also benefiting the dogs as well. As kids read to the dogs and pet them, it increases the human-animal bond and creates an effect of “mutual relaxation,” said Dizon. 

All of the therapy dogs at Paws for Tales have gone through an extensive training process and have passed the Canine Good Citizen Test, a national measure of good manners in dogs. The canines and their handlers are also evaluated to see if they are well suited for the program. 

Parents will also bring their kids to the libraries to help them overcome their fear of dogs or to figure out if a dog would be a good fit for their family, said Letona-Adams. Adults often feel safer being in the presence of these animals because they are trained and certified. 

Others will come to the libraries to interact with the dogs because they can’t have one at home but still seek a connection with an animal. 

The program is exposing more families with the idea of adding a furry friend to their family and encourages them to visit and meet the dogs at the shelter. The volunteer handlers are also open to answering questions that families may have about adopting a dog, said Letona-Adams. 

The Paws for Tales program is available across multiple libraries including Portola Valley, Woodside, North Fair Oaks and East Palo Alto. Register for a 10-minute reading slot by visiting smcl.bibliocommons.com/v2/events. 

If you own a therapy animal and are interested in joining the Pet Assisted Therapy team, visit phs-spca.org/pet-assisted-therapy.