Therapy Dogs' Educational Programmes
Animal-assisted education (AAE) is a planned and structured intervention directed and/or delivered by educational and related service professionals with specific academic or educational goals.
Maths is Achievable (MIA) program uses personalized plans to identify weak areas and create a strong foundation in mathematics. We work with therapy dogs to help children self-identify anxiety and respond to it in a positive way. We also host youth math evenings to create positive associations with math and help children engage with the subject in an accessible, fun way. Currently, we are collaborating with the University of Derby (UK) to empirically investigate the impact of therapy dog interventions on math anxiety.
Math Is Achievable (MIA)
Find and fill foundational gaps
Make math accessible by tackling anxiety and fostering a growth mindset to learning.
Develop their ability to self-evaluate, set realistic goals, and teach themselves
The "Read2Dogs" program, which involves children reading to therapy dogs, has gained attention for their positive impact on children's literacy and emotional well-being. The presence of a dog provides a non-judgmental, comforting, and encouraging audience, which can reduce stress and increase a child’s motivation to read. The research suggests that the act of reading to a dog can help improve reading skills, such as fluency and comprehension, because children feel more relaxed, less self-conscious, and more engaged.
Improve literacy by providing a non-judgemental and supportive audience
Boost confidence and motivation through positive interactions with therapy dogs.
Reduce reading anxiety by offering an empathetic, calming presence to make reading a comfortable experience
Read2Dogs Programme
Settling & School Anxiety
Our dogs have become integral to supporting children through academic learning, particularly with tasks that may spark anxiety or prove challenging.
During school transitions, our dogs assist children who feel anxious about attending school. Wearing vests with handles, they provide a sense of security, guiding children into their classrooms and assisting them in smoothly separating from parents in the morning. This is particularly helpful for second language speakers who find themselves in a new environment, where everyone speaks a foreign language.
Therapy Dogs not only impact academic success but can have positive impact on the development of social skills, friendships and emotional wellbeing.
Therapy dogs facilitate students’ engagement in social interactions and learning tasks. Therapy dogs assist students to regulate their emotions and behaviors.