Pig tales & pony plots: Lincoln Park Zoo lets kids read to the animals this July

Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo has rolled out an innovative initiative this summer called "Reading to the Animals," targeting early readers and their caregivers. Hosted at the beloved Farm-in-the-Zoo, this new program invites children to enhance their reading skills by reading aloud to a range of farm animals. The program first started this past week and will occur every Monday morning in July from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

According to the press release, the program offers young readers the unique opportunity to interact with chickens, cows, pigs, ponies, and goats. The zoo’s announcement claims that research shows how interaction with animals provides a nonjudgmental audience, helping children gain confidence and improve reading fluency without always facing corrections.

As Emma Martell, Director of Child, Teen, and Family Engagement, explained in the press release, "Farm-in-the-Zoo has long been a favorite spot for our youngest visitors...we’re excited to introduce kids to a new way of connecting with the animals here, while also helping them practice their reading skills."

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A unique educational environment

Alongside this initiative, the zoo offers other weekly programs designed to engage children with nature. The "Play! at Farm-in-the-Zoo" project facilitates open-ended play through activities like sorting pinecones and digging in seeds, appealing to toddlers and preschoolers. Farm-in-the-Zoo, known for its interactive approach, encourages experiential learning with barn animals, including goats and chickens.

Founded in 1964 and renovated in 2002, Farm-in-the-Zoo integrates domestic farm animals with educational play stations, providing a bucolic retreat in the urban environment, the website states. Visitors can also explore two produce gardens, observe a chicken egg incubator, and participate in seasonal animal demonstrations. 

For more details about the program, visitLincoln Park Zoo.