Learning with Animals – Values for Life
Can children take on responsibility? How can animals be meaningfully integrated into daily life and education?
Small animals are more than just cute companions.
For children, they become important “teachers” – fostering empathy, a sense of responsibility, and patience. Adults play a central role in this process.
- Guiding, Not Lecturing: Children need support with feeding, handling, or cleaning.
- Establish Routines: Fixed times for care or feeding provide security and simplify the routine.
- Engage in Discussions: Talking about animal behavior (“Why is the guinea pig hiding?”) strengthens empathy.
- Share Positive Experiences: When the animal shows trust, valuable moments of success arise for children.
Animals instill in children care, patience – and values that last a lifetime.
Thus, pet ownership becomes a shared experience that enriches daily life – and playfully makes children more caring and attentive.