I have long believed that animals are very good ways to teach children empathy and consideration for their fellow beings. Children who are exposed to animals at a young age learn to care for someone besides themselves and they learn to respect the animal they care for. That respect then grows to encompass other animals as well as the environment.
I do not think it is a wise idea to just let a small child have any animal without supervision. It doesn’t matter if it is a cat, dog, horse, ferret or hamster, children with animals must be taught how to take care of them. Parents, guardians or teachers must show the child how to handle the pet and care for it in order to prevent injury to either the animal or the child.
There is an organization that will help teachers learn all about animals and how to take care of them. It is called Teach Kind and it is the humane education division of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. They have lesson plans and lots of other things that teachers can get for free to teach children humane ways to deal with the other creatures on this planet.
From their website;
TeachKind, the humane-education division of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, is a resource for teachers, administrators, and librarians who want to help students become kinder, more compassionate individuals. On this site, you’ll find a wealth of materials that have been designed exclusively for caring and dedicated educators like you. You can download free lesson plans or order free books, posters, leaflets, stickers, videos, and other resources. And if you need further information or ideas or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!
You can read all about this wonderful program here.
Parents and children, be sure to tell teachers about this and for you teachers, be sure to check out the website and take a look at what they have to offer.
