Kids Read To Pets At Animal Shelter In Manassas

MANASSAS, VA—Looking for something new or different for kids to do during the summer? Something that perhaps never even occurred to you? Here's something that's a little off the wall but nonetheless intriguing. It's a summer reading program for kids at the Manassas Animal Shelter, 10039 Dean Drive.

The program, dubbed "Read to a Shelter Pet," begins July 9 and runs through Aug. 8 every Tuesday and Thursday. Simply call the shelter at 703-257-22420 and set up a 30-minute time slot from 10 a.m.-noon.

Sound a bit odd? According to an article in Scholastic, reading to pets not only can help kids burnish their reading skills but also can benefit animals, as well. To wit: "Animals are also helped from the attention they receive. It gives kids a sense of purpose when they sense the animals are benefiting from their kindness and attention through the act of reading."

And consider this, from the Baltimore Humane Society: "The children are not the only ones to benefit. With the quiet one-on-one attention of the readers, the dogs, cats, and rabbits gain companionship and an overall calming effect. Bonus — they learn to enjoy the company of children."