Pets

Pets
"My cat is watching the fish tank" (5 years).

Children of all ages are interested in pets because they can have real-life, up-close contact with exciting animals. Many pets offer a sensory experience and children can touch feathers, fur or scales. Pets often display fun behaviour and go through dramatic life changes (e.g. laying eggs and transforming into butterflies).

Popular childcare pets include fish, chickens and other birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, worms, and insects. At home, children may also have dogs, cats or horses. Keeping pets can be rewarding and challenging. Some early childhood centres keep many pets while others choose to have none at all.

Early Years Learning Framework

Early childhood educators can incorporate pets into the EYLF, even if the service has no pets. Keeping pets (either at home or in childcare) teaches children to respect the environment (2.4) and show care, empathy and respect (1.4). When pets are treated like family members, children develop a sense of identity (1).

Learning experiences

Welcome a pet into your service

Pets teach children to care for and respect living creatures while acquiring knowledge about their needs. Not all children have pets at home and educators can fill this gap in experience. However, there are many considerations before making this commitment.

Learning environments

Create a vet play space

Create a play station with everything children need to care for sick animals. Let the play unfold naturally as children experiment and develop their own games using the resources:

  • reception desk with a calendar, notebook and pens
  • pet food and medicine boxes (stuff them with paper and tape the ends to make them last longer)
  • books and posters about pet care and anatomy
  • medical equipment - using doctor's equipment is fine
  • examination table with scales to weigh pets
  • general pet equipment (e.g. cat carrier, dog bed, leash)
  • and lots of toy animals.

Establish a pet-friendly environment

Teach children to respect animals by the way pets are incorporated into your centre. Are they being treated as specimens for children to observe and experiment on? Or are they valued community members?

Family and community connections

Visit an animal shelter

Some local animal shelters are suitable for visits from young children - call ahead of time and ask. Children may be able to interact with animals or just receive a talk from their care provider. The visit will teach children about responsibility and the importance of giving proper care to pets.

Invite a vet

Your local vet may agree to visit your service for a talk. They could bring some vet equipment and educate the children about keeping healthy pets. To thank them for their time, let them leave brochures for families who may want to use their service.

Invite a pet

Some animals don't make great pets in early childhood settings, however they can come for a quick visit. Ask your staff members and families for suggestions. Maybe someone knows a friendly dog (or guide dog) that would love attention from young children.

Foster a pet temporarily

Pets are not for everyone. If you are unsure, look for local fostering programs. If keeping your pet isn't successful, you can return it responsibly. Fostering is usually offered for rescued animals while they are waiting for a forever home.

Make a display of family pet photos

Promote belonging and identity. Ask children to bring in photos or drawings of their family pets. If they don't have any, bring a picture of the pet they wish they had. Place the pictures on a wall so all children can see them. Discuss them as a group.

Interactions

Talk about children's pets

This is a fantastic topic to talk about with children, especially new children. Relief educators may use pets as conversation starters when working in new childcare centres.

  • Do you have pets at home? What type of animal? What is its name? Where does it sleep? What does it eat? Do you help care for your pet?
  • Talk about your own pets.
  • If you could have any pet in the entire world, what would it be?

Routines

Caring for pets creates many routine tasks. Children will benefit most if they are involved in:

  • feeding
  • cleaning cages and tanks
  • brushing and grooming
  • visiting the vets
  • play, socialisation and exercise
  • and checking the animal. Is it changing? Is it happy and healthy?

Discussions

  • Why do some people have pets?
  • Which animals like to connect with humans the most?
  • Why do pets need us to care for them? What makes them happy?
  • Why are pets sometimes difficult? What things don't we like?

Reflections

Consider ways to extend your children's interest in pets. What wider topics can they learn about? Try life cycles, animal protection and advocacy, or different species.

Resources

Websites

ABC: Talking to children when a pet dies

Videos

RSPCA Queensland: School for Dogs

Music