If you remember from last week's newsletter, I had asked you all to send in some pictures of your pets, in honor of May being National Pet Month! You did not disappoint; I am so happy that you all shared these with our Macaroni Pamilya! Below are tons of readers' pets, the furry and the scaly! For those of you who have a pets, have you ever tried letting your kids read to them? There is a lot of research that show reading aloud to animals has many benefits!
Photo Credit: National Library of Medicine Study
Reading to an animal may increase the bond between the person and animal. It also allows for the person to read to their best ability, uncorrected and uninterrupted, therefore providing the practice, motivation and confidence to continue reading aloud without judgment. Reading aloud allows people a chance to repeat things again and again to practice. There are many studies that have taken place, any many future studies to come, that show the benefits of reading to animals.
Even if you do not have pet, I have more ideas for you: take your child to the zoo or a park and have them read aloud to the birds, bugs and creatures. Lee County Libraries frequently hosts therapy dog sessions where your child can come in and read to the therapy dogs. Fort Myers Beach Library hosts Dog Days with that same idea. LCSO has a Cell Dog program for inmates to read to adoptable dogs. FGCU's College of Education helps elementary kids read to humane society animals using the program called Reading With the Dogs SWFL. Create a reading nook or a small fort using a sheet, and let your kid hide and read privately to their stuffed animal. All of these will have a significant impact on your child ... or even you!
Lucy (9 years old) - Michael, Angela & Joe
Lucy loves to go on hunting trips and sleeping. She never
loses energy and always wants to play with her toys!
Winston (7 years old), Bear (9 years old) & Rambo (8 years old) - Leanne
"Winston is a German Shephard Dog who absolutely loves to collect sticks,
play frisbee, and take over his mom's bed.
Bear is my 28-lb fat cat who just wants to eat, lay in the grass, cuddle and be loved.
Rambo, well, his name says it all! He loves to help in every way- like sitting on my
keyboard when I'm working. He also loves to drink my coffee and share my breakfast."
Jax (6 years old) - Tito
Jax is a mutt that I adopted when he was about four years old.
He follows me everywhere and gets separation anxiety when I forget to
take him outside with me.
Zuko (1.5 years old) & Ryu (12 years old) - Natalie, Everett & Kira
"Zuko is a British Lab and the bestest boy! He is super friendly,
loves to play and eat like every lab out there!
Ryu is a barnyard tabby that thinks he's a dog. When he's not sunbathing,
both him and Zuko love to play and chase each other."
Rosie (1 year old) - Kasimara & Jayden
"Rosie is a cornsnake who doesn't do much but eat, sleep, and poop!"
Rocky (3.5 years old) & Rosie (2.5 years old) - Gabrielle
"Rocky is an American Staffy who is the biggest meatball mama's boy;
he lives for being snuggled and playing outside with his friends!
Rosie is a pitty/lab mix who is the laziest and most loving dog. She always insists on
sleeping on the rocking chair, and her head must touch mine when we sleep."
Simba (3.5 years old) - Arianna, Antavian, Hazel & Elijah
Simba is an American Staffy mixed with Catahoula Leopard Dog, which is a herding dog. He loves
to do zoomies in the backyard and herd the kids to "safety" when he feels they are in danger.
