Research has shown that having pets in the classroom/school helps to stimulate learning both academically but also socially and emotionally.  Below are a eight benefits of having our amazing school pets: 

1. Social Skills- Pets can be the bridge some students need to make friends in their classroom, this gives them something in common that they can all talk about. They have also been shown to help students build confidence on how to work through problems and conflicts.

2. New Ways of Learning- Having the guinea pigs in the school opens up the opportunity to teach a variety of lessons through interaction with them. They can work on counting the number of hideouts in the cage, learn what letter the guinea pigs' names start with, work on drawing shapes and making art for them, and many more fun interactive learning opportunities that they otherwise would not have had. 

3. Teaches Responsibility- As students become comfortable with the guinea pigs they may have the opportunity to help take care of them. Things like feeding them, brushing them, or even putting in fun new toys for them allow them to feel a sense of ownership of our school pet. 

4. Builds Self-Esteem- Students receive a sense of accomplishment and pride while taking care of pets. Studies have even shown that children tend to have a higher level of self esteem when they are exposed to pets. 

5. Companionship- Children can form a powerful bond with their pets and will consider them to be friends. Animals can provide us with unconditional love, which can give children strong emotional support. Students may be willing to tell the pet things they do not want to tell others and they may feel more comfortable expressing their emotions to a pet than an adult. 

6. Stimulated Mental and Emotional Growth- Animals are known to releive anxiety and stress not only in adults but also children. Studies have also shown that being around an animal can help regulate your heart rate and even your breathing. This helps students learn essential coping strategies that they can use throughout their life. 

7. Enriches the Classroom/School- Pets in the classroom/school can give children who do not have a pet at home the chance to interact with an animal on a regular basis. It can provide students something to look forward to and has shown in many studies to increase school attendance. Students feel more excited about their lessons and tend to look forward to coming to school daily so they can see their classroom/school pet. 

8. Encourages Nurturing- Pets help teach students how to be gentle not only with the pet but with their peer. They can also help teach self regulation of emotions by helping students calm down enough to interact with the pet after expreiencing "Big Feelings". 

• 96% of the teachers surveyed said that having a pet in the classroom was a positive experience

• Almost 78% saw attendance improve

• 93% saw a decrease in anxiety in their students

• A whopping 98% saw an increase in compassion and empathy

• Nearly 78% saw academic improvement

• 92% witnessed an increase in self-esteem

• 86% of teachers saw a decrease in using discipline

• 95% saw social skills improve

To learn more about the pets in the classroom program please click here.