Read Across America Day: Western Pa. organizations find creative ways to encourage reading

When children learn to read, the skill “opens the world to them,” according to Amber Power, executive director of Bella Terra Stables in Murrysville.

Bella Terra Stables is one of many local organizations that offer unique ways to encourage children to read.

“If you can make reading fun for kids and if you can be creative in ways of teaching kids to read, you’re going to create a group of children who are more proficient in reading,” Power said.

March 2 is National Read Across America Day.

Several local libraries and organizations are “making reading fun” during March — which is National Reading Month — and beyond.

More than horseplay

In elementary school, reading out loud to a group of your peers can be intimidating.

Some children find it’s less stressful to practice in front of a furry face.

Bella Terra Stables hosts a “Stories in the Stable” program, through which children can read a book to a therapeutic horse and make a furry friend along the way.

The free program gives children an “amazing” way to practice reading, according to Power.

“(Children) have that confidence with the horse because horses are so nonjudgmental,” Power said. “A kid might struggle in a classroom reading out loud to his or her peers, (but) come to the stable, read to a horse, and it’s a lot less stressful.”

So far, about 50 children have participated in the program, Power said. Most have been in elementary school, but the Murrysville wellness center doesn’t limit age.

Kids can bring their own books or read books from Bella Terra’s library, which the center hopes to continue growing.

Many children love the program — and the horses love it, too.

Power said the therapeutic horses enjoy the children and books.

“(The horses) kind of get kids,” she said. “If a kid comes and they’re nervous, we’ll have horses stay back a little bit. We’ve had horses that realize a kid might just need a friend and they come a little bit closer. They’re very gentle around the kids.”

Those who wish to participate in the program should make a reservation on Bella Terra’s website at BellaTerraStables.org.

STEM and dogs

Murrysville Community Library is adding scientific and canine twists to reading.

Two programs offered this month include a STEM-themed story time and “Dog Reading Pals.”

The STEM story time will be both “fun and educational” for children pre-K through second grade, said Amy Riegner, the library’s director.

The story time, which takes place at 4 p.m. Mondays, will “develop the building blocks” of science, technology, engineering and math in young children, Riegner said.

From 4-5 p.m. March 11, the library will be filled with furry friends for “Dog Reading Pals.” The program allows children to develop reading skills in a “nonjudgmental” environment as they read to a dog, according to a Facebook post.

Registration will be limited based on the number of dogs and volunteers in attendance.

Children’s programs highlight the library’s role in literacy, socialization and community, Riegner said.

“The library is more than just books,” she said. “We’re also a social setting.”

The library asks participants to sign up for both programs on its website.

‘Core programming’

The Carnegie Library is offering its core programming in person.

This includes children’s story time, which is starting up again in March after a two-month hiatus, according to library communications manager Suzanne Thinnes.

Story time is tailored to different age groups, Thinnes explained. During story time, kids and their parents or guardians can expect to read books, sing, dance and interact with the librarian in a fast-paced setting.

“It’s fast-paced because children’s attention spans might not be able to handle a long story time,” Thinnes said. “(Story time is) a lot of fun for both the caregiver and the child.”

The library also offers virtual programs for children and encourages children and their parents to read every day.

“When we think of reading, we think of it as a family function,” Thinnes said.

More information can be found on the Carnegie Library’s website.