households have at least one domestic animal, and pets are seen in school settings, neighbors’ homes and other environments.
Oliver did not believe me until I provided him with evidence.” Photo by Jennifer Veltri Kirsch Pet relationships can help kids build trusting relationships “I told him that he does sleep with him, but that once he is off dreaming Macky would come and sleep with me. Oliver used to get mad that Macky would sleep with me at night and not him,” says his mom, Jennifer. Increasingly, schools, libraries and other settings use trained pet therapy animals to help motivate, calm, de-escalate and teach social-emotional learning (SEL). Kids who experience anxiety, depression or histories of abuse can find a small furry animal, such as a guinea pig, comforting to touch and hold. A skilled therapist can use animal interactions as a bridge to human social interaction, which can be challenging for children with ASD. There is growing evidence that children with special needs, particularly those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), can find a calm, friendly animal to be a compelling focal object. Kids also engage in more social play, with greater social competence and larger social networks.
In a recent review of 22 studies, pet relationships were shown to reduce loneliness and increase self-esteem. Along with physiological perks, kids experience less anxiety and depression, improved learning outcomes and social-emotional effects. Kids who grow up with pets experience endless benefits ranging from lower blood pressure and fewer allergies to increased physical activity. His mom, Jennifer, says that growing up in a household with pets has provided Oliver with strong social-emotional skills like empathy, care and mindfulness. Their cat, Kuni, also joins them for walks on their Hawaii hilltop. From a young age, Ollie learned how to properly play with his pets and read their signals (scratch or bark = too rough!) As he has grown he has taken on the responsibility of feeding and walking their two dogs. My nephew Oliver has pet loving parents, so animals have always been a big part of their family.
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