Spending time with a pet is a powerful way to combat loneliness & isolation, reduce stress and promote overall health and wellness. For children with special needs, pets & service animals can provide the motivation & confidence to gain greater independence, build social skills & reach therapy goals.
Encourage Exercise – Pets help boost kids' desire to get moving around, bringing increased independence. Many pets—especially dogs—can be highly motivating for kids with mobility-related difficulties to practice exercise on a daily basis & reach therapeutic goals.
Signal Health Issues – Service animals help children keen their senses as to how their body is feeling, thereby teaching children the warning signs that a health intervention may be required. Service animals are able to detect oncoming seizures or dangerous dips in blood sugar, remove obstacles, & alert adult caregivers.
Security – Known for decreasing social anxiety and stress, pets help children with disabilities relax by providing a sense of protection and security.
Behavioral improvements – Animal-assisted therapy has been shown to increase certain brain chemicals associated with healthy behavior and social function.
Social-emotional growth – Research indicates children with autism show significantly greater participation in social interaction when their therapy sessions incorporate animals compared to standard therapy sessions without them.
Speech development – Pets can provide children with a meaningful way to practice skills often targeted in speech therapy, such as initiating communication without prompts & looking at faces.
Families who are unable to have pets in their own home may want to consider animal-assisted therapy at a nearby location, or even horseback riding for special needs children. Not only can horseback riding improve physical challenges, such as poor posture, coordination & gross motor skills, but it can also improve mood.
Note: There are a number of factors that should determine whether having a pet in your home is appropriate and safe. Keep in mind that pets & service animals may not be appropriate under certain situations. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, children 5 years of age and younger, those with weakened immune systems, & people aged 65 and older are more likely to get diseases spread between animals & people. Pregnant women are also at a higher risk for certain animal-related diseases.
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