🐈 Animals & Education🐕
"Never work with children or animals" is a quote we've all heard before. But can children and animals worth together? This blog explores how they absolutely can!
Do you ever get home from a stressful day of work and feel your mood change immediately when you see your animals? Or have you ever woken up in the morning and fallen back to sleep to the sound of your cat nosily purring? Animals can have a huge impact on our behaviour. Is there a place for them in educational settings?
There are numerous benefits to having different types of animals in educational settings. Below I’ll outline a few obvious ones.
Emotional Support💞: The main one and the most pop-culture one is obviously for emotional support. Schools are a tricky environment to navigate emotionally as a young person and there may be times when a young person needs support to regulate. Animals are amazing at providing this co-regulation. I’ve seen this work in extreme circumstances. When a young person, in crisis, raised a chair above their head, caught sight of the school dog, immediately placed the chair down, and asked if they could take the dog for a walk.
Social Engagement🤝: Many young people, including those with SEMH needs struggle with social interactions. Animals offer a buffer and scaffolding for social interactions. For example, tasking two children with cleaning an animal’s enclosure can be an excellent way to ignite a new friendship. These kinds of activities can help children who suffer from Emotional School None Attendance (ENSA) reintegrate themselves back into their school community.
Reduced Anxiety and Stress🧘♀️: The presence of animals can significantly reduce anxiety and stress levels. Interacting with animals has been shown to lower blood pressure and release "feel-good" hormones, such as oxytocin and serotonin. Having a furry friend around can create a calm and relaxed atmosphere that positively impacts everyone's mental state.
Improved Focus and Concentration🎯: Animals are excellent listeners and non-judgmental creatures. This quality can be a game-changer for all young people who struggle to concentrate or focus. When a child reads aloud to an animal or spends time training or playing with them, it can enhance their attention span and boost their motivation to learn.
A little side-note to this point. In KS1 (Years 1 & 2), this works with a puppet or cuddly toys. You would not believe how keen KS1 children are to read aloud to a toy Frog! 🐸We’re talking, missing playtime to make sure Mr Frog has heard the whole story! However, this can create arguments if a particular toy becomes the favourite!
Emotional Regulation🫂: Animals have an amazing ability to sense and respond to human emotions. They can help young people learn to regulate their emotions and develop coping strategies. For example, interacting with a school dog can teach children how to handle frustration, anger, or sadness in a healthy and constructive way, promoting emotional growth and resilience.
Increased Confidence🎖️: Building self-confidence is a crucial aspect of supporting children. Having an animal around can boost a child's confidence by providing a non-judgmental and accepting presence. As children develop a bond with the animal and witness their progress in training or caring for the animal, their self-esteem can soar.
Sense of Responsibility🎒: Caring for a school animal involves responsibility and accountability. Children can take on various tasks, such as feeding, grooming, or walking the animal, which instils a sense of purpose and ownership. This responsibility can transfer to other areas of their lives, teaching them valuable life skills and promoting a sense of empowerment.
Of course, it's important to note that implementing a school animal program requires careful planning, training, and consideration for allergies and sensitivities. However, when done right, the benefits can be immeasurable.