How our pets help children learn is quite fascinating!
Almost all children adore animals – as a rule, much more than they love to learn. So why not bring them together to see if animals can help kids learn?
This is not a new idea, but recently it has been gaining momentum, and after the pandemic, many teachers even introduced the habit of taking animals to lessons – for example, a rabbit or a personal dog.
But how do animals actually help children learn and develop?
Before we move on to the basic skills that animals develop in children, it is worth remembering that not every animal will enjoy being in an educational environment. Animals, like humans, can experience emotions, and often negative ones. Therefore, if you involve them in the learning process, you need to consider them as equal participants. There are a lot types of cats that can become for you child a best friend and a teacher.
So, let’s dive into how interacting with pets can benefit children’s skills.
6 Ways Pets Help Children Learn
Social behavior
Tasks like walking the dog, having to feed the cat in the morning, or cleaning the hamster’s cage teach kids responsibility and also keep them busy. Furthermore, when kids learn to identify when animals are thirsty, fatigued, or overheated, they get empathy skill, which is a vital step toward being less self-centered.
Participating in meaningful animal care may also help a youngster develop a strong feeling of self-confidence and self-respect, as well as a deep affinity with the natural world. Animals may be nonjudgmental companions for children.
Also, animals help closed and insecure children. For example, when the baby goes for a walk, his four-legged friend will certainly arouse the interest of passers-by. Someone will want to stroke the animal and start talking about pets. So the child will learn to keep up the conversation.
Emotional well-being
Having a pet may increase a person’s sense of security and belonging. Interacting with pets can help children who lack confidence in interpersonal relationships.
Children can learn to control their own behavior from animals since they give highly specific “biofeedback” to their emotions through body language, such as tail wagging. They learn how to recognize signs of tension and maintain their composure among animals.
Children with specific worries also learn that they are not alone, knowing that even huge dogs have fears. Furthermore, some kids who struggle with attachment find it much simpler to be around pets, which can help them learn to form relationships with people.
Language and literacy
Children can greatly improve speaking and listening skills. They may become more confident in talking or reading with animals that are not a critical audience.
Physical development
Walking a dog has several physical and physiological benefits. Furthermore, endorphins are generated when a youngster walks or rubs a pet, which might relieve anxiety.
Furthermore, children and teenagers gain a variety of motor skills through interacting with animals, such as brushing or feeding them. Equine therapy can also aid those with physical problems such as cerebral palsy.
Imagination, curiosity and creativity
Animals have the ability to grab children’s imagination and interest, resulting in millions why, how, when, and who and a desire to learn more.
They may interact with animals while learning a variety of social and creative skills. Children all across the world are busy honing their research abilities in school animal-themed projects because teachers understand that animals may inspire and encourage their students.
Life cycle experience
Despite how sad it may seem, everyone dies, and an animal’s lifespan is far shorter than that of a person. Having a pet enables youngsters to comprehend and learn about the life cycle, even if the majority of parents and educators wish to shield their students from any of the cruelties of this world.
Having a child survive the death of a pet can really help them cope with other difficult life events.
Do pets help children only?
In short, no.
Students who come into frequent contact with their beloved dogs experience better health and less stress. And this allows them to learn better.
The presence of a pet in the house, especially a dog, has a very positive effect on the well-being and psyche of students. This conclusion was reached by researchers from the University of British Columbia in Canada. They divided 284 students into three groups. In the first group, the participants were able to come into contact with the dog, but could not pet it or touch it at all. But in the second group, this contact was accompanied by touches. In the third control group, participants met with a cynologist, but without a dog.
Prior to the experiment, all volunteers reported on how they felt. This included levels of social connection, happiness, campus involvement, stress scores, homesickness, loneliness, positivity, and negativity. All groups after this experiment showed some improvement. However, only in the second group, where it was possible to touch the dogs, was the improvement of the highest rate.
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Speaking about the benefits of learning, we forget how important it is to just have fun. Good mood and laughter are the key to longevity. It is never boring with pets – children can watch them, play with them or simply chat. This may be the best motivation for a child to improve academic performance.
