Reading Dog Julius Helps Estonian Children Overcome Performance Anxiety

Karin Golubev, a member of the Estonian Aid and Therapy Dogs Association team, explains how reading dogs help children develop a love of reading and overcome performance anxiety. In the dog's presence, children feel safe because the animal does not criticize or apply pressure.

Karin Golubev, a member of the Estonian Aid and Therapy Dogs Association team, introduced the reading dogs programme on the show "Terevisoon", which helps Estonian children develop reading skills and combat performance anxiety. One of the programme's key participants is the dog Julius, in whose company children happily read books.

According to Golubev, the presence of a dog is especially supportive for children because the animal does not judge or criticize the reader. "A dog doesn't say, read faster or say you made a mistake now," Golubev explained, emphasizing that this kind of safe and pressure-free atmosphere encourages children to read freely and experiment without worrying about mistakes.

The reading dogs programme is widely used around the world and has proven its effectiveness – children who are afraid to read in front of adults feel much more comfortable speaking aloud in front of a dog. In Estonia, the Estonian Aid and Therapy Dogs Association offers a similar opportunity, with its volunteers visiting schools and libraries with their dogs.