If you have ever wondered how to get your kid or grandkid’s eyes off a screen and onto a book, this new research may have the answer.
According to a new study released by researchers at the University of British Columbia found that sitting down with a book “in the presence of a pup” can help motivate our young ones to read more.
The research team, led by doctoral student Camille Rousseau, studied the reading patterns of 17 children (8 girls, 9 boys) without a dog present, and then again with a dog nearby. Each child was currently enrolled in either the first, second, or third grade at the time of the study.
While the sample size is small, the findings showed a significant result.
The findings showed that children spent significantly more time reading and showed more persistence when a dog—regardless of breed or age—was in the room as opposed to when they read without them,” Rousseau says. “In addition, the children reported feeling more interested and more competent.”
It appears that dogs may be of more use for the self-reliant than for hunting or security. They may be an integral part of home learning as well.