A program encouraging children to practise reading aloud to cats and kittens will be offered permanently at Campbellfield’s Lort Smith adoption centre.
Lort Smith and Hume libraries partnered to trial the Tales for Tails program last year. The program offers free, 30-minute sessions for children aged five to 12 to practice reading at the adoption centre.
Lort Smith spokesperson Suzana Talevski described the trial program’s results as amazing.
“The positive effects extended beyond the animals; the children’s confidence, motivation, and literacy skills flourished,” she said.
According to Lort Smith, research demonstrates that reading aloud to animals increases interest and improves self-confidence. The non-judgemental audience is designed to provide a comfortable setting to promote human-animal bonds that encourage empathy and compassion.
Alongside the benefits for the children, the program hopes to increase adoption rates and animal wellbeing.
“Our shelter animals benefited greatly from the extra socialisation and human interaction, making them more comfortable and in many cases, more adoptable,” Ms Talevski said.
The mutually beneficial program is the first of its kind in the area, with other similar initiatives being implemented internationally.
The sessions run on Thursdays after 4pm and can be booked on the Hume libraries website or via 9356 6900.
Kaija Du
