AR-News: (UK) How Children Benefit From Their Pets

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http://www.ukpets.co.uk/ukp/index.php?section=Home&sub=News&rws=&method=fetch&
item=651&tb=introduction

New research reveals that interaction with pets can positively influence 
children's health, emotional development and schooling. These findings are among 
scientific research and practical examples to be presented at an international 
conference hosted by the Society for Companion Animal Studies, (SCAS) in 
Leicester today. 

Dr June McNicholas, health psychologist and senior research fellow at the 
University of Warwick, will present the findings of her research showing that 
exposure to cats and/or dogs in the first year of life reduce subsequent risks of 
allergic sensitisation during childhood and that exposure to pets is 
associated with a significantly reduced risk of asthma. 

Dr McNicolas' also provides an insight into how children and pets interact. 
Her survey of 338 children found that: 

40% sought out their pet if they were upset
40% looked for their pet if they were bored
85% regard their pets as a playmate
53% watched TV or videos with their pet 

The conference includes presentations by other leading experts including 
Marleen Bouckaert, chairman of Belgian animal assisted therapy charity, CHAKKA, 
and Steve Goody, director of companion animal welfare at the Blue Cross. 

Sue Dawson, a researcher at Manchester Metropolitan University, (MMU) is to 
present a creative 'detraumatisation' project developed in post-war Bosnia 
Hercegovina. The project shows that developing an empathy towards animals enhances 
the emotional health of children who have experienced trauma. 

Educational benefits of pets for children 

Marleen Bouckaert provides an overview of an innovative Belgian schools 
programme that promotes positive interaction between children and dogs. Her 
presentation highlights the importance of teaching children how to build positive 
relationships with dogs. The programme is a highly-regarded case study 
illustrating how it is possible to encourage a high standard of social behaviour and 
instill important life values in children. 

Conversely, Steve Goody, director of companion animal welfare at The Blue 
Cross, investigates how the increasingly anti-pet policies of schools deprives 
children of a vitally important learning process that may affect their emotional 
and physical health in the future. 

Elizabeth Ormerod, chair of SCAS, said: 

"For many years, the valuable role of pets in children's development has been 
recognised. But recently, the positive health, educational and therapeutic 
benefits of pets have been scientifically investigated and acknowledged. 

"Children tend to form very special attachments to companion animals. Through 
learning to care for and understand animals, children develop greater empathy 
for other people, which helps to improve human and animal welfare in 
society." 

The conference coincides with the launch of a new SCAS publication 'Children 
and Pets: A guide for parents, teachers and therapists'. The guide provides 
best practice advice on key issues for readers. Drawing on current research, it 
discusses the influence of pets on children's development and health, how to 
be a responsible pet owner, selecting the right pet and keeping pets at school. 

The SCAS was set up in 1979 by a group of doctors, social workers and 
veterinary surgeons from Britain and the USA to promote interest in human-companion 
animal relationships. Since inception, SCAS has progressed the study and 
awareness of this relationship considerably, providing an information source and 
publishing literature on recent findings. 

Submitted by: Steve O'Malley
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