Dog Days with Martha
By Liam Dougherty, Educational Programs and Services Intern, WHYY
For many children, the coming of August marks the last leg of summer vacation. As cabin fever sets in after two months of freedom and the days are getting hotter and hotter, some kids find themselves wishing for the end of these "dog days" of summer. Hold on there, Lassie! August 26th is National Dog Day and this month we should spend some quality time with our own lovable pets!
VIEW
"Martha Speaks," a program about the adventures of a 10-year-old named Helen and her talking dog Martha, is designed to expand and strengthen vocabulary. Although not all of our dogs can talk, they all can be loyal and friendly companions to our children. With National Dog Day approaching this month, it's time to return some love and affection to our four-legged friends of all shapes and sizes. "Martha Speaks" can be viewed by humans and canines weekdays at 3:30 p.m.
DO
Teach your child to respect and care for their own "Martha's". If your family does not have a pet, consider adoption; some cities report having close to 50,000 pets in need of a home. Shelters around the country are full of adorable pets seeking a family of their own. Already have a pet? You're probably already experiencing the benefits! Studies repeatedly find that children and adults who live in households with pets are less stressed, have lower blood pressure and are generally healthier! These benefits come not only from the exercise we get from playing with our pets, but from simply loving and caring for our loyal companions.
There are plenty of activities that can help strengthen this bond between your dog and child and get them out of the house and moving, and beat the boredom of these "dog days."
- Hide and Seek
Have your child hide a few treats from your dog around the backyard or house. Next have your pet smell your child's hands to pick up the scent of the treats. Then watch him or her go! Don't hide them too well at first, but after a few times, your dog will be a master at tracking them down!
- Doggie Exercise
Consider taking your dog biking, roller-skating, running or hiking. Dogs make excellent camping buddies, and they can even help "shoulder" some of the gear!
- Fetch
Having trouble teaching your puppy to fetch? Check out this website and get ready to enjoy some great Frisbee fun.
- Summer Swimming
Nothing beats those end-of-summer blues like a swimming session. Consider bringing Fido to a local body of water with your child, and (if it's safe and permitted) go for a dip! Make sure to follow these safety tips to have a fun and refreshing day with your dog.
READ
Just can't beat the heat? Then stay in! Sit under a fan or crank up that air conditioning and "go fetch" one of these great dog-themed books:
Akiak: A Tale from the Iditarod
By Robert J. Blake
Go, Dog. Go!
By P.D. Eastman
Sounder
By William H. Armstrong
Shiloh
By Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Totally Fun Things to Do with Your Dog
By Maxine Rock
Marley & Me
John Grogan
Parents, imagine getting expert advice and sharing parenting thoughts with other moms and dads of children ages 8 to 18. Well you can at Y Parents, a new resource from WHYY.
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