Animal magic

Animals have long been embraced by early childhood educators as a valuable resource in supporting and enriching children’s learning and many childcare services have resident pets which provide invaluable animal experiences for children. Chances are you’ve encountered a feathered, finned or fur-like creature at your centre. You might have had the good fortune of bringing Bluebell the budgie home for the weekend, ensuring she stays fed, watered (and in her cage) - the highlight of a little person’s week.

More and more early childhood settings are incorporating pets into the learning environment so children can observe, interact and learn to care for an animal which can be a valuable part of a child’s education and care experience.

The inclusion of animals in childcare services is directly linked to the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) where learning outcomes focus on helping children to connect with and contribute to their world and have a strong sense of wellbeing. There are also ties to the National Quality Standard (NQS) where services are required to show care for the environment and support children to become environmentally responsible which includes helping them understand and appreciate the interdependence between people and animals.

There are numerous benefits for children, families, educators and the wider community to include animals in childcare services:

1. Care, empathy and respect

Caring for an animal gives a child a sense of pride and achievement and a healthy respect for life. Animals provide opportunities for children to practice care-giving and nurturing, and to carefully explore issues of power and vulnerability. They see directly how their behaviour and actions affect others and they learn to appreciate the needs of others, not just animals. Children learn that living things need more than just food and water for survival and become sensitive to what else an animal might need to stay happy and healthy like a warm bed to sleep in, cuddles or something to play with.

2. Responsible pet ownership

Children learn early on that taking care of an animal is a big responsibility because they rely on us to keep them fed and well cared for. They learn how to be a good pet owner through active participation in feeding routines, cleaning their living environment, monitoring

their health and wellbeing, and using good hygiene practices like hand washing before and after handling. Educators recognise that not all families have pets at home and children are taught how to interact safely and care for different types of animals. Where possible, services offer opportunities for families to take a pet home for the weekend or holidays which helps to strengthen the bond between the child and the animal and enables the child to share information and meaningful experiences with his or her family.

3. Sustainable practices

Quality childcare services take an active role in caring for their environment and contribute to a sustainable future. The National Quality Standard (NQS) sees services embedding sustainable practices within their operations. Keeping animals like chickens in early learning settings helps to support sustainable practices in obvious ways like using eggs for cooking but also in other ways like using eggshells as a natural repellent in herb and veggie gardens or using composted chicken manure as fertilizer.

4. Transition from home to childcare

When children separate from a parent or family member, it can be a very stressful and disturbing experience for them. For many children, animals, represent safety and security. They are familiar, they are safe to talk to, and they are a source of comfort and love. Because animals are appealing and reassuring, they are often a source of comfort that children will seek out to process their feelings. Animals can provide a source of comfort during transitions from home to the care environment or when transitioning from one place to another during the day.

5. Improved communication and social skills

Children love animals for the simple reason that they can just be themselves – no rules, expectations, or outcomes – just pure love and natural wonder. Socially, animals can be a wonderful catalyst for helping children to communicate and interact with one another. Children are more prone to approach and interact with another child who is playing with an animal. Dr. Nicole Grant, Paediatric Occupational Therapist from Early Start Australia says children with delayed social skills and impaired communication skills are often motivated and excited by the opportunity to interact with animals. Having the opportunity to do so can encourage increased joint attention, speech production, gesturing and other important verbal and non-verbal elements of communication. Practicing social skills and communication skills with an animal can help kids to develop the foundation skills required for generalisation to their peers and caregivers.

6. Learning and discovery

While some early learning settings have the space and resources to permanently keep an animal like a fluffy bunny, chirpy budgie or slippery turtle, many centres organise animalbased incursions that provide opportunities for children to have direct contact with animals, develop bonds with them and to inspire them on their learning and discovery journeys.

At Story House Early Learning, we use programs like Henny Penny Hatching which provide all the equipment for children to learn about the life-cycle of a chicken; children observe eggs that hatch and grow into cute, fluffy chicks. Recently, a couple of the chicks found themselves a permanent home. Roast and Barbara are now living at our Kew service as permanent pets and are about to start laying eggs in the coming weeks!

There are many organisations which specialise in providing up close experiences with all types of animals such as worm farms, butterfly gardens, travelling zoos and marine programs. Quality early childhood services will be incorporating these into their programs regularly.

Animals provide companionship, entertainment, and an opportunity for children to learn responsibility. Exposing them to various creatures from a young age helps to not only deepen this connection but significantly contribute to their growth and development in all areas.

By Nicole Kilpatrick, Story House Early Learning. www.shel.edu.au