Children with special needs require extra assistance to ensure their learning and development, and dogs can help children with special needs in a variety of ways and be an integral part of their routines.
even lower blood pressure. A child petting a dog can lower cortisol, a stress hormone, and even lower blood pressure. The health benefits of owning a pet for children extend beyond just reducing obesity.
and babies, a type of antibody produced by the immune system in response to allergens, substances that trigger allergic reactions. Out of 1,303 infants, scientists found that living with dogs was associated with a 90% reduction in the odds of infants developing food allergies, and none of the infants who lived with at least two dogs developed a food allergy when followed up at three years old. However, it’s important to note that just because you own a dog doesn’t mean your baby will be immune to allergies in their lifetime. Sometimes your baby will still develop allergies in childhood to animals. If your child does suffer from allergies, hypoallergenic puppies would be a good choice to experience all the benefits of having a dog in the household without all the sneezing, wheezing, and itching.
Puppies help kids focus on the present
With the rise of children receiving cell phones, the increase in daily screen time for children is a concern for many parents. Owning a puppy gets kids’ eyes unglued from screens to put them right in the present moment. It’s difficult to lead a sedentary lifestyle when there’s a puppy tugging on your pants! Kids unplug to focus all of their attention on their puppy’s needs.
Researchers are studying interactions between dogs and kids who have autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and other conditions. Children with ADHD often struggle in the classroom. Researchers wanted to test the hypothesis that dogs can help children with ADHD focus by pairing one group with actual dogs and the other with puppets of dogs. They found that at the end of the 12-week study, children who read to dogs shared and cooperated more and had fewer behavioral problems than those who read to the puppets.
Puppies demonstrate unconditional love and loyalty to children
Dogs are always ready to lend a listening ear and show unconditional love to kids. It’s hard to be a kid sometimes, and they need an unbiased party to listen to their problems. Kids may be learning that friendships come and go, but your trusty dog will always be by your side, reducing feelings of loneliness and anxiety. They’ll come to learn they can trust their dog to never tell their secrets! Having a healthy model of love and trust helps children develop their idea of how people should treat and care for one another in relationships. The bond between a child and a dog can transcend into a canine soulmate – or a partner in crime when they get into shenanigans.
Dogs can help prevent obesity in babies & children
You may have found it interesting to learn that dogs directly have an effect on a baby developing obesity later in life. Common sense tells us a child who moves more will stave off obesity from developing. Researchers at St. George’s, University of London studied movement levels of 2,065 children 9-10 years old for a week. The study revealed that the children with dogs spent more time being physically active each day than those without dogs. While dog breeds require different amounts of daily exercise, involving kids in walking and playing with your puppy helps keep them active.
Dogs encourage emotional growth
Raising an emotionally healthy child and encouraging their growth and development is another priority for parents, and your family puppy can – you guessed it – help with that in several ways. We’ve all seen children experience a temper tantrum when their feelings are just too big for their understanding. A child with a dog will quickly learn they must regulate their emotions around puppies. Their actions affect others, and they can’t just take their big feelings out on a puppy. A puppy’s licks and cuddles will also help calm down a child. Caring for puppies provides kids with a sense of accomplishment. They can take pride in helping with simple tasks, like daily feeding or putting toys away. The boost in self-esteem and confidence children feel caring for an animal or the satisfaction they experience when they teach a puppy a new trick will help a child work through a variety of emotions.
Dogs help increase literacy skills
Dogs can play a remarkable role in improving children’s literacy skills through programs allowing kids to read to dogs or programs offering therapy dogs in libraries. Children often feel more at ease reading to a dog in a canine-assisted reading program than to their peers or adults, allowing them to focus on the text and improve their fluency without worrying about making mistakes or being ridiculed or embarrassed. As children bond with the dog over storytelling sessions, they develop a love for reading that extends beyond the program fostering confidence, fluency, comprehension, and confidence.
Dogs lower stress & cortisol levels
Even though a new puppy can cause stress while adjusting to its new home, did you know that puppies can physically reduce stress in your body? A child petting a dog can lower cortisol, a stress hormone, and
Dogs assist children with special needs
Missouri Pet Breeders Association | Page 4
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