Pet therapy at school



Pet therapy at school

The term pet therapy, or AAT ( Animal-Assisted Therapy ), means a sweet therapeutic system focused on the interaction between humans and animals. There are different animals, as well as different therapeutic purposes and areas of application of pet therapy : hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, rest homes and schools. All structures interested in new recreational modes to be included in their programs to increase the quality of life within their facilities.

In Italy, in fact, the interest in pet therapy activities has grown and the demand on the territory has increased. The recognition of the pet therapy took place with the Decree of the President of the Council of February 28th 2003, which acknowledges the agreement between the Ministry of Health, the Regions and the Autonomous Provinces, concerning the welfare of companion animals and pet therapy . The attention paid at the legislative level to pet therapy allows the discipline a scientific and procedural dignity even in Italy. The attempt to regulate the AAT programs at national level frees up these contributions from the 'do-it-yourself' forms.

Benefits of pet therapy at school

For a child, school can be a difficult universe to deal with. Pet therapy works both with "difficult" children, with behavioral disorders or intellectual retardation (therefore working on the individual) and with the normal class of students, working on social dynamics. In both cases, the benefits of pet therapy at school are considerable.

Children with intellectual disabilities, with behavioral and personality development problems arrive at the school with a wealth of disappointments, accumulated in the daily confrontation with others, such as to trigger a series of defensive reactions that compromise a balanced personal and social development. For these children, the dog represents an element of emotional exchange and a stimulus to communication. It is a positive and rewarding reinforcement to the efforts made by children in every field. Promotes awareness of one's emotions, instills self-confidence. It is a support to social relations and contributes to creating a relaxed and collaborative climate in the classroom. Scientific studies have shown that contact with animals can increase attention and concentration times, reducing anxiety. Playing with four-legged friends at school means stimulating social interaction and encouraging self-esteem .

The pet therapy at school allows the dog to play a remarkable emotional role, thanks to the relational capacity of the animal itself which allows children a continuous emotional exchange. Children and young people of different ages establish a mimic and gestural relationship with the dog, rediscovering the non-verbal capacity of communication and refining the sensitivity and receptivity to the external signals of pleasure and stress of the hairy playmate. These are fundamental factors in social life between peers and adults, useful for a balanced structuring of the personality. But what does the child learn in a pet therapy session at school?

Discover also the therapeutic power of the cat

What children learn

All children like animals, and therefore dogs. Dogs fascinate children for their intelligence . Pet therapy at school is able to offer educational courses based on dog breeds that allow you to deal with highly topical subjects, such as respect for all living creatures, a sense of solidarity and acceptance and respect for the rules.

During the sessions, often doubts and curiosities arise, to ask the instructor, about the training of the dog, on how to be obeyed. Here the child discovers that the dog learns through play, sweetness, respect for rules, gestures, consistency, patience and trust. The consistency of the behavior is decisive, otherwise the dog gets confused. Good manners always reward and the dog, when he has done a good job, must be gratified, with voice and gestures. The child begins to assimilate what a dog feels and feels, and relates it to human beings.

At school one learns that a disobedient dog is like that because of his master who has prevented him from learning any rule of life. One learns that stray dogs are the fruit of human selfishness and inhumanity, because when one decides to take a dog home it is necessary to evaluate the situation in all its aspects. This is because a dog needs affection, care, time, economic resources. And he needs to be educated in good civil coexistence and knowledge of the rules of life . Like children, who go to school to learn to grow in the community and to learn about the disciplines that will guarantee them a basic culture indispensable for being able to interact with modern society.

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