Science is proving pets are natural therapists, especially for children. They can help kids overcome aggression and shyness and they teach responsibility and empathy.
Pets make good therapists because they play the same role as human ones do, by providing comfort, companionship and someone to talk to and confide in, says Alan Beck, a professor of animal ecology and a pioneer in the field of the healing power of pets. (In 1996 he and a colleague showed that pets could lower blood pressure simply by being present.)
Kids know there's no risk that their pets will betray them, and the animals give feedback in the form of unconditional love. "Pets don't judge," says Beck. He believes taking care of animals also teaches responsibility and boosts esteem by giving kids a "helper's high." That may explain why children with pets score significantly higher when measured for self-esteem, confidence and altruism.
Forever man's best friend
Researchers think we respond so powerfully to pets because it's hard-wired into our brains. At one time it was a matter of survival to be well attuned to animals. And companion animals, particularly dogs, helped early humans venture out of their caves, providing protection, friendship and help with hunting. Whatever the reason, "the evidence is overwhelming that animals have a dramatic impact in reaching children," says James Stowe, a veterinarian and president of the Human-Animal Bond Association of Canada in Ottawa.
Instilling sensitivity
Kids with pets are more attuned to the feelings of others because they're better at reading nonverbal cues, says Stowe. Animals have only nonverbal cues to give, and children quickly become adept at understanding them.
With the many virtues that pets bring, it's no wonder therapists across the country are using them to help troubled kids or those dealing with loss.
