Being in the company of animals, whether in the countryside or at home with a pet, relieves anxiety and encourages generosity and responsibility, among other positive values. In this way we can raise children's awareness of respect for animals.

Working with animals is one of the most interesting branches of education. Dealing with them has many advantages for children of all ages, even teenagers.

How to introduce the values of respect for animals and make children aware of their care? From St. George's British International School we give you some keys.

Experimentation is the best way to learn

The best way to encourage respect and love for animals among children is to be in contact with a pet and give it an identity. It is a good idea to start by talking about pets and asking if any of the classmates live with a pet, such as a dog or a cat, counting it as part of the family we love. If so, we can invite the child to bring their pet to visit the classroom and prepare the event as a big day, when we are going to receive a visit from someone very special.

But not just any animal can visit a classroom. Therefore, it is a good idea to go on a field trip to meet some animals in their natural habitat. It is important for children to know that, although we live with pets, most animals need to live in their own space, which must be respected.

Going to the countryside or forest to see animals will help to foster the respect we are looking for, as well as the experience of the visit will create in their minds very strong emotional bonds with the natural environment.

Finally, it is important to foster a humble attitude towards animals: the fact that they need us or that we take care of them does not mean that we are more important than they are. Depending on the age of the children, it is good to teach them that human beings are just another animal that has evolved differently from the rest. These little notions of science can be a key ingredient in understanding that animals, in and of themselves, are important.

Eating animals?

At infant levels, it is not common for children to relate animals that they love and care for to food. However, if children ask such questions, it is important to approach the subject of eating animals from the point of view of nutrition and the importance of food: we eat animal products because they are important for growing strong and healthy. But we should never associate food with a live animal (avoid talking about eating piglets or cows) and even less with an animal with which the child may have a relationship.

However, children who have grown up in the countryside understand very early on that it is not incompatible to love animals and use them for food, or even as a work tool.

The benefits of dealing with animals in childhood

The mere contact with animals for children is in itself an escape from anxiety. The mere presence of an animal, its touch, creates a relaxing situation that can be therapeutic, especially for children with educational needs such as autism. Animals are calming.

On the other hand, making children understand that animals are not beings that can reason and make decisions as we can, awakens in them an instinct to protect them. Having the responsibility of caring for a creature that needs them makes them mature and more generous.