Do animals have a place in children's classrooms?

There are many positives to kids growing up with a pet at home, a main one being that they are beneficial to the physical, social, emotional and cognitive development of young children. 

Animals help children to grow and develop in ways you may not have even realised. A pet can teach children responsibility, compassion, confidence, social skills, trust - the list is endless.   

So, can these benefits be taken advantage of in the classroom? 

Animals are continuously aiding and teaching people in different ways, horses are used for ‘equine therapy’, whereby they facilitate in improving the emotional well being of both children and adults. Likewise, studies have shown that children with autism have made substantial progress related to social interaction when in the company of a dog. Dogs are of course also used as therapy or assistance dogs and can become eyes for the blind or ears for the deaf. 

A dog can also come into the classroom as the ‘teacher’ – studies have shown that animals are actually the perfect way to boost academic skills and many have been trained purely to work in schools, colleges and libraries, both as educational and therapeutic aids. 

One of these initiatives, Bark and Read, takes ‘reading dogs’ into schools with the intention of lessening stress in the classroom and increasing the ability for children to learn key skills. Instead of reading to a teacher or classmate the child will read to the dog. Animals are the perfect reading companion for little ones as they feel more relaxed when reading to dogs as opposed to adults – it gives them an opportunity to just enjoy reading without being told they mispronounced a word or skipped a part. A pilot scheme saw 60% of the children taking part improve their reading age by more than 3 months in the first 6 weeks. 

Obviously the responsibility of a dog means that having one in the classroom on a day-to-day basis is unrealistic – however a smaller animal, such as a hamster, is the perfect pet for a classroom. They take a lot less looking after than a larger animal, but just enough that the children will learn from it. They could be the perfect starting point for children, especially for those that don’t have the luxury of having their own pet at home. They will help them to experience new emotions, learn new skills and understand the feeling of having something dependent on them. 

As well as teaching children skills, animals can also provide a calming atmosphere within the classroom and become a child’s best friend. 

However, one issue some do have with a pet in the classroom is that of ownership. If the animal belongs to the classroom as a whole then who is responsible for it’s care? They may be there to help the children as they study, but they need looking after themselves and can’t be left in the classroom over the long holidays or weekends. If a rota can be drawn up, so each pupil takes this in turns or someone is happy to cover each one, then this no longer needs to be an issue. 

The question of whether animals belong in the classroom can divide opinions, but it is clear to see that there is so much children can be taught from animals that it makes sense for them to be a part of their educations. It is just important to do your homework first, there is a lot to consider, as the animal will not just be there for entertainment. 

If you are a teacher, and believe that yes, animals do have a place in children’s classrooms, you may now be considering one for your own. If so check out the pets for sale from Freeads to find the perfect teaching assistant to help you ensure your children develop and grow whilst you are teaching them.