“We’ve been absolutely overwhelmed with the response from teachers, parents and students to our teams’ virtual therapy animal visits during the pandemic. There is now an important role for animals in helping children adjust as they return to school,” said Mary Margaret Callahan, Chief Mission Officer of the leading therapy animal organization Pet Partners.
In addition to these benefits, the survey also found:
- 75% parents believed pets helped children bond with other school mates
- 81% believed pets encouraged more exercise and activity
- 80% of parents believed pet interaction should be used in schools, with 3 in 4 saying there should be more investment supporting pets in the classroom programs
The extra time spent together also benefited pets, as most parents believed their pet is also calmer now that they spend more time with their children.
Research shows pets may have a positive impact on children’s learning, by improving their motivation, engagement and social interactions in the classroom. Other studies have shown pets can provide emotional support for children, help them deal with stress(Opens a new window), be more self-confident, and understand responsibility. Having a dog at home has also been associated with a lower risk of childhood anxiety(Opens a new window).
“Exploring the important role human-animal interaction can play in a range of settings – from the classroom and office to the hospital or simply at home – is something we, at Mars Petcare, have been committed to for many years,” said Kay O’Donnell, Vice President, Waltham Petcare Science Institute, the fundamental science centre for Mars Petcare. “
At Mars Petcare, and in collaboration with organizations like The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, we are supporting researchers worldwide in their efforts to drive high-quality human-animal interaction studies and better understand when and how pets in the physical classroom can help children’s learning in the classroom.
Join in the conversation about the research behind the benefits of pets and hear from parents and teachers’ experiences of having pets in the home classroom by using #PetsMakeItBetter and following us on Instagram.