 |
| Macomb Daily file photo by David Dalton |
Raise your hand
if you're a parent trying to squeeze out the last of summer fun before the
start of school? Uh-huh! Summer goes quickly and while camping and trips to the
zoo are all great, wouldn't it be nice to find an event that your little ones
love that continues into the fall?
Consider
penciling in a visit to one of the area libraries offering the PAWS for READING
program.
It's a unique
program involving dogs that love children and can sit long enough for a child
to tell them a story. Besides being enjoyable for the dogs - who love the
attention – the program has proven to help children improve their reading
skills.
"Dogs not
only help children learn to read, they help children learn to love
reading," said Michael Amiri, who co-authored with his wife, Linda, the
children's book, "Shellie, the Magical Dog”
(www.shelliethemagicaldog.com). "And that's true of children with and
without learning disabilities."
Macomb County
libraries have seen the results by way of happy parents and the return of young
patrons looking to read to the dogs, and there have also been studies done on
similar programs. A Minnesota pilot project called PAWSitive Readers found that
trained therapy dogs helped 10 of 14 grade-school participants improve their
reading skills by one grade level. A study by the University of California also
showed that children who read to the family dog improved their ability by an
average of 12 percent.
How do dogs help
kids learn to love reading?
For one thing
there's no risk of being embarrassed. "Most of us have memories of reading
out loud in the class," said Michael Amiri. "Though we may have been
proficient readers, the fear of stumbling on a word in front of everyone was a
constant source of anxiety."
Dogs are known
for their unconditional and nonjudgmental love and although they might lick someone, they won't laugh if
and when mistakes happen.
Dogs are
confidence boosters.
"I never had
a dog while growing up, which is too bad because I think I would have had an
easier time gaining self-confidence," Amiri said. It wasn't until he
became an adult and he and his wife became the owners of a very special
Maltese, Shellie, that he discovered the many benefits of dogs. When visiting
pet-friendly restaurants in their community, Shellie is often the center of
attention - especially when she laps her water out of a martini glass or stands
as a greeter at the local hair and nail salon. "If a little dog can give
me, a grown man more confidence, imagine what it can do for kids," added
Amiri.
 |
| Macomb Daily file photo by David Dalton |
Dogs are great
listeners. Energetic breeds like a beagle or Dalmatian might not sit still, but
most dogs enjoy the sound of a calm voice speaking to them and the opportunity
to curl up on a rug and listen to a story being read aloud. "They don't
interrupt (except for the occasional ear scratch or to sniff something) and
they often show appreciation for the attention," Amiri said.
Dogs make
learning fun. Studying can have a bad rap with kids. To them it means spending
long hours alone trying to work out problems or learn something they’re not
interested in. "Interacting with a lovable, fuzzy friend for an hour of
homework is an appealing alternative," Amir said.
It's a win-win
situation.
"A
canine-student reading program is a great way to help service dogs-in-training
learn patience and discipline," Amiri said. "Dogs are trained to help
veterans suffering post-traumatic stress disorder, the blind, and people who
use wheelchairs, among them. These dogs in training help children, while
children improve a dog's service abilities."
PAWS for Reading
will be held at Clinton-Macomb Main Library, 40900 Romeo Plank Road, Clinton
Township, starting at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 27. Children are invited to attend. Dogs
are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Look for a sign-up sheet in
the children's area of the library.
DAYTRIPPING
Looking for more family-friendly events and activities? Check out weekly list of happenings going on in the Detroit area below:
Culinary event
Culinary
Impressions and the Men’s Health Foundation have teamed up with Dorsey Culinary
Academy to host a fundraising dinner to benefit the Foundation’s work in
promoting awareness, education, research and treatment of prostate cancer and
men’s health-related issues in southeastern Michigan. Join them for a
five-course meal prepared by Metro Detroit’s up-and-coming chefs, Sept. 15.
Tickets: $225 per person. Call Jeremy Abbey at 313-580-2823 or email chef.jeremy.abbey@gmail.com.
Voyageurs
Encampment
Ste. Claire
Voyageurs annual encampment, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 25-26, at Lake St. Clair
Metropark West Beach in Harrison Township. Includes reenactment of lifestyles
and skills of the era, displays, campfire cooking, music, dance, stories,
lectures. Parking fee to enter Metropark. Call 800-477-3172 or 586-463-4332.
Fashion Show
“Sizzle with
Style 2012” fashion show and luncheon presented by Sterling Heights Regional
Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Anchor Bay Chamber of Commerce, check-in
11:30 a.m. Aug. 29, at Cherry Creek Golf and Banquet Center in Shelby Township,
sponsored by McLaren Macomb. Tickets $25 chamber members, $35 non-members; to
register, 586-731-5400 ext. 11 or 13, or www.shrcci.com.
Heron Festival
Heron Festival
and Spring into Nature Celebration, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 25, at Burgess-Shadbush
Nature Center, 4101 River Bends Drive, in River Bends Park, Shelby Township.
Fee $3 adults and ages 4 and older. Call 586-323-2478.
Metroparks
Activities at
Wolcott Mill Metropark include “Top to Bottom” tour of the Historic Center, 2
p.m. Aug. 25, at the Ray Township park.
Heritage Days
Huron Pointe Sportsmen’s
Association presents 17th Heritage Days, 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Aug. 26, at the club
on 28 Mile road east of Gratiot in New Haven. Events for kids include trout
fishing, making arrows, painting bird houses, demonstrations by Michigan
Military Technical & Historical Society, and more. Free admission;
refreshments available. Call 586-598-8018 or visit www.huronpointe.org.
Puppet
performance
Ever wonder how
birds learn to fly? Join puppeteer Heather Henson on the Detroit Institute of
Art’s front lawn Saturday and Sunday at 2 and 4 p.m. for an interactive
performance that explores the intangible spirits of wind and flight through
puppetry and kiting. For more visit:The DIA
Anton Art Center
“Patriotism”
exhibit, Aug. 26-Sept. 22, at Anton Art Center’s Petitpren Community Gallery,
125 Macomb Place, Mount Clemens. Free opening reception 1-3 p.m. Aug. 26.
Center open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Friday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Call 586-469-8666 or visit www.theartcenter.org.
On stage
Warren Civic
Youth and Teen Theatre auditions for “Seussical Jr. the Musical!”, the week of
Sept. 4, at Warren Community Center, 5460 Arden. For times, dates and to schedule an audition,
call 586-268-8400. Performance dates are Nov. 2-4.
Ridgedale Players
auditions for “Nuts,” 7 p.m. Aug. 26-27, at Ridgedale Theatre, 205 W. Long Lake
road. Show dates are Nov. 2-18. For details, www.ridgedaleplayers.com.
Richmond
Community Theatre auditions for Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” 7-9 p.m. Aug. 26-27,
at the theater, 69619 Parker St. at Churchill. Play dates Oct. 19-21, 26-28 and
Nov. 2-4. Call 248-762-6621 or visit www.richmondtheatre.com
St. Clair Shores
Players auditions for “I Hate Hamlet,” 7-9 p.m. Aug. 27-28, at Good Shepherd
United Methodist Church, 31601 Harper, St. Clair Shores. For details, scsplayers.org.
Farmington
Players auditions for “The 1940’s Radio Hour,” Aug. 27, registration starts 6
p.m. at the theater, 32332 W. 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills. Play presented
November and December. Call 248-553-2955.
New season at
Broadway Onstage begins with “God of Carnage,” 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and
2 p.m. select Sundays, Sept. 7-Oct. 6, at 21517 Kelly Road, Eastpointe. For
ticket information, 586-771-6333.
Stagecrafters
presents “Legally Blonde – The Musical,” Thursdays-Sundays, Sept. 7-30, at the
Baldwin Theatre in downtown Royal Oak. Advance tickets $18 Thursdays, $20
weekends; showtimes 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Visit
www.stagecrafters.org or call 248-541-6430.
“Avenue Q,”
presented by The Farmington Players, Aug. 25, at the Farmington Players Barn,
32332 W. 12 Mile Road, between Orchard Lake and Farmington roads. For tickets,
$18 adults with discounts available, call 248-553-2955.
Library programs
“New Release
Thursdays” at St. Clair Shores Public Library, 22500 11 Mile road, 6:30 p.m.
first Thursday free viewing of movie in William R. Gilstorf Meeting Room. Also
“Classic Movie Fridays in August,” 1:30 p.m. Fridays through Aug. 31, features
showing of either classic or award-winning movies. Call 586-771-9020 or visit
www.scslibrary.org.
Art & Apples
47th Art &
Apples Festival for Paint Creek Center for the Arts, Sept. 7-9, in Rochester
Municipal Park in downtown Rochester. Event includes pie-baking contest,
entertainment, art, kids’ activities. For details, www.artandapples.com or
248-651-4110.
Tea Talk
Crocker House
Museum/Macomb County Historical Society present “Tea Talk Tuesdays at Two,” 2
p.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 18 and Oct. 23, at the museum, 15 Union St., Mount
Clemens. Events include historical programs, refreshments; tickets $7 Society
members, $10 non-members. For reservations, 586-465-2488. Museum tours
included.
Ford House
“Fairy Tales at
Ford House: A Grimm Celebration” community art exhibit through Nov. 4, at the
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House, 1100 Lakeshore Road, Grosse Pointe Shores.
Related youth and adult programs continue into the fall; for schedule,
www.fordhouse.org.
Meadow Brook
Summer tours at
Meadow Brook Hall on the Oakland University Campus in Rochester, 11:30 a.m.,
12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. A new architecture tour includes interior and
exterior highlights of the design and construction process, 1 p.m. Saturdays
and Sundays; Behind-The-Scenes tours that include the staff wing are noon and
1:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; each tour admission is $15 adults, $10
seniors, free ages 12 and younger. Twilight Tuesday 6-9 p.m. Aug. 28, $10
adults, free ages 12 and younger. Call 248-364-6200 or go to
www.meadowbrookhall.org.
Summer sounds
The Mall at
Partridge Creek and Motor City Co-op Credit Union present free daily outdoor
concerts (weather permitting) at Center Court through Sept. 3, at the Clinton
Township mall on Hall Road between Romeo Plank and Garfield roads. Performances
are 5:30-8 p.m. Monday-Friday, 4-8 p.m. Saturdays, 1-5 p.m. Sundays and
holidays. For details, visit www.shoppartridgecreek.com.
Concerts/dancing
at Lake St. Clair Metropark take place 6:30-10 p.m. Sundays through August; 5-8
p.m. through September. Music free with Metropark vehicle annual entry permit,
$25 season, $15 ages 62 and older, or $5 daily. Visit www.metroparks.com or
call 586-463-4581.
Wild Summer
Nights concert series at Detroit Zoo, 6:30-8 p.m. Aug. 29, in Main Picnic
Grove; free with zoo admission. Guests can bring own picnics or purchase
refreshments at concessions.
Park*it
Park*it family
fun nights under way in Macomb County at several parks. Activities start at 6
p.m., music 7:30, and movie at dusk. For schedule, visit Park It Family Fun Night
At the Zoo
Senior Day at the
Detroit Zoo, 10 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, Royal Oak, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept.
5 for ages 62 and older, features music, tractor train rides, music, bingo, zoo
talks.
For details visit Detroit Zoo
No comments:
Post a Comment