Glenda Bridgman, 57, Wandana Heights VIC I'd just turned 50 and retired as a primary-school teacher. I had especially enjoyed the last year, when I took my cocker spaniel Hamish into class once a week.The school principal and I had heard about a Perth school with a resident dog who helped break down communication barriers, so we trialled it at my school, Roslyn Primary School in Belmont, Geelong.My grade five and six class loved when Hamish visited, relaxing and improving their teamwork.
Once I retired, I rang Delta Society Australia, which promotes positive interactions between dogs and people, about volunteering with Hamish as a therapy dog. I explained what we'd done at my school and they loved the idea. They wanted to start a dedicated program focusing on dogs helping children to read. 'We can start at my old school!' I suggested. So I found myself back at school with Hamish, this time visiting grade one children, many of whom needed help with their reading. Hamish would sit with the kids and listen as they read to him.
I'd nudge him to move when a child would become stuck on a word or needed feedback, saying, 'Hamish would like you to try that again.' The children really improved – a university study even proved it. They found it less stressful reading to a dog as opposed to an adult so they relaxed more, especially shy children.Autistic kids also improved their communication. One autistic boy with a dog phobia spent two years getting to know Hamish. After that time he ended up introducing Hamish to other kids as 'my very good friend'. After six years of Hamish making around 300 visits to various schools, he retired when he turned 10 last year, leaving me to take on more of a training role, helping to expand the Delta Classroom Canines Program.We're always searching for volunteers with dogs who have the right temperament for school visits, and welcome donations. Anyone interested can visit our website at www.deltasocietyaustralia.com.au |
