Yvette Salvaris
What can children learn from animals?
Have you ever wondered how much you could learn from your pets? We know that animals have a way of connecting with us, and it’s been proven that there are many benefits to having them in our lives. But what about the kids in your life? What can they learn from animals?
Since the start of this year, myself and my Dog Daisy have been volunteering as a therapy dog team. We visit workplaces, schools and nursing homes to provide care and support. It’s amazing how Daisy can brighten up people and make them feel better. Children especially have benefited from Daisy.
Animal Therapy – What Is It?
Animal therapy is any kind of therapy involving the use of an animal. This can be anything from visiting with an animal at a zoo or petting farm to working with a trained dog who helps people with disabilities. Animal therapy is used to help people with many different issues, such as depression or anxiety. It’s also used to help children who have been abused or neglected as well as those with developmental disabilities like autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
The Benefits Of Animal Therapy For Children
There are many reasons why animal therapy works so well with children:
It helps them develop social skills by interacting with others in a new way; it gives them opportunities for sensory stimulation through touch; it provides them with opportunities for communication through speech practice; if used correctly, it can help teach empathy towards other living things; and it may even help build self-esteem by giving them confidence.
Dogs and other animals are often used in therapy settings because they can help children become more comfortable with themselves and their surroundings. Children who are often shy or anxious about interacting with others can learn to interact with a dog without worrying about being judged. Animals don’t judge you. A child can be themselves around a therapy dog and the dog will not judge them. However, if a child is rough with an animal chances are that the animal will stay away from the child. The same can be said if a child’s behavior is hyper then a dog is not going to want to be near the child. In essence, the dog is teaching the child consequences of their behaviour.
Therapy dogs can provide children with motivation. In some schools, therapy dogs are used to help a child with their reading. Typically the child will read to the dog while stroking it. The simple act of patting a dog clams the child, especially if they are feeling anxious about reading. By reading to the dog, the child does not feel judged. The dog is not going to laugh or get angry if the child cant read. The therapy dog is bringing the child’s focus away from their self-esteem and shifting the focus onto something more pleasant.
In addition to helping students learn how to read, therapy dogs can also be used as companions during recess time or after-school programs where they will offer support and encouragement by simply being present with them. The unconditional love that these animals offer helps children feel accepted and capable of overcoming challenges in their lives such as learning disabilities or behavioural problems at home due to neglectful parenting practices caused by substance abuse problems within families etc…
The bottom line is that dogs have an ability to calm us down when we’re stressed out which makes them great companions for people who suffer from depression or anxiety disorders. There are many benefits to therapy dogs in the school. This article is just a drop in the bucket, as there are so many more positive effects of therapy dogs.
