How Adorable Dogs Help NYC Students Build Their Confidence

A new generation of educators is helping teach kids in the Big Apple that everything is easy to do.

The Department for Education’s “Comfort Dog Program” has been rolled out to around 50 schools across the five boroughs – and young pupils are reaping the rewards of increased confidence and better grades.

This adorable initiative, which places trained therapy dogs in classrooms, began as a pilot program in just seven schools in 2016 and now helps hundreds of students tackle life in the classroom – and beyond.

The program is led by Kirsten Kinsella, a DOE dog trainer and educator since 2007, who explained that it offers targeted, personalized lesson plans spread out over approximately six weeks to help struggling children engage in their studies and their emotions.

But to really see the “magic,” Kinsella invited The Post into a classroom at PS 70 in the Bronx to witness it in action.

A group of five students from the Bronx quietly entered their classroom and took their seats – the toll of the school day written all over their faces.

But when Kinsella introduced “Chip,” a Shih Tzu poodle mix, the sunken faces quickly turned to smiles.

“Who’s nervous?” Chip feels nervous too. Look how he’s doing, let’s shake him up with him,” Kinsella said.

The results were instantaneous, as the students imitated Chip and started shaking before bursting out laughing.

Kinsella said shifting students’ attention to Chip is the first step.

“It really allows the child to open up, be motivated and eliminate the fear and anxiety they feel working with groups of children or with an adult,” she said. explain.

Next, a guided tip.

“Chip, turn around, turn around,” Augustina, 10, said, carefully helping the dog.

Struggling at first, Chip quickly became a natural.

“If Chip can make mistakes and do better next time, I know I can too,” Augustina, now beaming with confidence, told the group.

Kinsella said working with Chip allows students to connect with their emotions because “he can understand what they’re feeling.”

Chip then began a group discussion – using two colored dice with questions stuck on either side.

“How did Chip help you?” » asked Kinsella, reading the die thrown by Chip’s snout.

“When I get to school I’m sometimes really tired, but spending time with Chip helps me stay motivated throughout the week,” responded Liam, 10.

For less confident students, Chip can also help overcome feelings of inadequacy or embarrassment.

“So instead of the kid being nervous, Chip is nervous. Or if the child doesn’t recognize a letter or a math solution, Chip doesn’t recognize it. Then the kids help him solve the problem,” Kinsella said.

Chip is one of dozens of dogs on rotation in the Comfort Dog program, which costs participating schools $1,000 a year out of their school budgets.

It also belongs to Kinsella, who donated four other members of her furry family to the cause.

To join, owners, usually trainers, must submit their dogs to six-hour training sessions administered by the Good Dog Foundation.

Dogs should also be obedient and non-aggressive and desensitized to school-specific distractions such as a public address system, bell or fire alarm.

Kinsella said it’s “tough work” for the dogs, so classes are limited to 180 minutes per day.

Yoga and breathing techniques are also part of Chip’s repertoire.

“I remember when I was in fourth grade, a test made me cry, but being with Chip made me feel confident, happy and calm,” Ben, 10, explained after a deep breathing exercise.

In September, a harrowing survey of the city’s students — including 355,105 children in grades K-12 — found that 51 percent said harassment, intimidation and intimidation from from their classmates were common.

Aurora, a young student from PS 70, bravely revealed that she had been a victim of bullying and that it made her “mad and sad”.

The 8-year-old said she took a course specifically designed to learn how to “self-regulate” her thoughts, emotions and impulses.

The Comfort Dog program can also be adapted to help build math and literacy skills.

Instead of questions meant to elicit an emotional response, math and reading questions can be recorded on the dice, Kinsella said.

Data collected by the DOE on the program’s success is not publicly available, according to an agency spokesperson, who said it is used for “internal monitoring.”

But as long as the program exists, urban children who face this dog-eat-dog world say they are “confident” that they will have the tools necessary to survive in it.