Dreamstime
Children who understand how their words and actions affect others don’t make fun of people who are different. Young children first learn how to treat others by watching and listening to their parents and caregivers, so it’s important to start building children’s emotional skills early.
Matia Finn-Stevenson, Ph.D., a research scientist at Yale University and developer of a program called Mutt-i-grees At Home says, “I work with kids nationwide and see the immediate impact a dog has on them, especially on the kids who are despondent and anxious, and those who have developmental and behavioral problems. When I ask both younger children and teens what they like about dogs, they say, ‘They make me happy;’ ‘They make me laugh;’ ‘They make me feel kind;’ and ‘They need our help.’ Their responses are amazingly aligned with the research showing that being in the presence of a dog, or simply thinking about dogs, elicits hormones that make us calm, happy, and amenable to social interactions.”
Mutt-i-grees is what Finn-Stevenson calls shelter pets. Finn-Stevenson says dogs can also help children learn to be kind and caring so they not only won’t bully others, but they will also know how to help kids who are bullied. If a family doesn’t have a pet, puppets or even pictures of dogs and cats can work, too.
The Mutt-i-grees curriculum has been implemented at more than 4,000 schools across the country. And now it’s being exposed to the home market. A child’s stress or anxiety can show up as misbehavior, difficulty focusing, or becoming withdrawn. Mutt-i-grees At Home guides parents through establishing routine activities interacting with a pet to help kids connect with their feelings, encourage empathy and cooperation, and learn the steps that lead to making good decisions. The program takes advantage of the time children and parents spend together in the morning, before bedtime, during meals, and while riding in the car to build important skills.
Parents can easily tailor activities for children of any age. Each section builds on skills learned previously, helping children gain a gradual understanding of complex ideas. The program is unique both in its focus on dogs and the notion that learning social and emotional skills is not only for kids. Adults also find that using the program enhances their own mental health, according to Finn-Stevenson.
Visit education.muttigrees.org to learn more about the shelter pet program.