For a quiet activity for kids to do with the dog – try reading!
There are many beneficial reasons why dog therapy groups have been created for children to read to dogs. These organizations, like Paws for Reading and Paws for Healing, go into schools, libraries and hospitals just to provide a dog so a child can sit quietly and read a book. Children are usually less shy to read to a dog because they realize that dogs don’t mind if they misread a word. Although therapy dogs are chosen for a calm temperament and go through training to be prepared for visits, your dog can do this at home with your child and it will benefit both.
It is easy to get a dog excited and wound up, but it is more important to teach a dog how to stay calm. This is because most incidences of bites or scratches happen when dogs are in an excited state. Because they are pack animals dogs like to be with us no matter what activity we are doing.
Try this activity of having your child read to the family dog. This is something that is not only good for your child, but the dog will benefit from the close proximity and the calm state of mind from the child. You may have to start with the dog on a leash and sitting quietly next to your child as he/she reads a book. It is good to have times that the child and dog are close together but the direct focus is not on the dog. Soon they will both understand what is to be done during this activity and no leash will be needed.
If you are reading the book and your child is looking at pictures and listening to the story this is just as good. This is also a good time to teach your child how to calmly pet the dog as they both relax and listen to the story. Many people including adults pet a dog with fast hand movements. This will again, get at dog more excited. Try having your child slowly count as they pet the dog’s entire back. It might be fun to make a game out of counting slowly. Try this: “one good dog, two good dogs, three good dogs…” and so on. I bet they can get to “five good dogs”! See my next blog for more active games for children to play with dogs.
