Your kid won't read to you. They won't read to their sibling. But a golden retriever who sits there panting and looking impressed? Thirty minutes, easy.

This isn't a joke — it's backed by research. Library programs across the country pair reluctant readers with therapy dogs because dogs provide everything a self-conscious reader needs: a nonjudgmental audience, zero corrections, and a warm body to lean against. Kids who freeze up reading aloud in class will happily perform for a dog because the stakes disappear. No one's grading them. The dog thinks they're brilliant.

If you don't have a dog, stuffed animals work for younger kids. The point isn't the animal — it's removing the audience anxiety. But if you do have a dog, lean into it. Set up a "reading to the dog" time. Make it a routine. Your kid will think it's for the dog. You'll know better.