Understand the value of connecting animals and children
From family pets and wild animals to toys, stuffed animals, and media images, animals are a central part of every child’s landscape. This book examines the reasons why children should interact and connect with real animals, and it identifies the rich learning that results. You’ll find heaps of foundational support and practical ideas to create authentic experiences that bring children and all kinds of species of animals together—including many adaptations if live animals are not permitted in your setting.
Connecting Animals and Children in Early Childhood
Examines the basic qualities that make animals so appealing to children
Explains how animals impact children’s cognitive, social-emotional, and inter- and intrapersonal development and growth
Includes an overview of the many ways animals are present in children’s lives
Introduces authentic experiences with animals that are supportive of children’s understanding and learning, and respectful to both animals and people
Provides real-life examples of how to bring animals into your classroom with suggestions for planning, ideas for finding the right pet, and resources for making experiences meaningful, relevant, and joyful for children
Patty Born Selly is executive director of the National Center for STEM Elementary Education at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota. As the founder of Small Wonders, an educational consulting company offering services to schools, faith-based communities, and other organizations, Patty has developed hundreds of classes to help programs incorporate nature, science, and green education.
Spis treści
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Animals and Child Development
Infant and toddler responses to animals
Formation of values in early childhood
Role of animals in children’s social-emotional development
Development of self in relation to animals
Communication with animals
Chapter 2: Strengthening Connections between Children and Animals
Why do animals captivate children?
How do children identify with animals?
How can educators build on this natural attraction?
Chapter 3: Animals in Children’s Lives: Where, When and How are Children Interacting with Animals Outside the Classroom?
Family pets
Media: Television, movies, books, video games
In nature
Child care
Friends’ pets
Influence of adults’ verbal and non-verbal interactions with animals
Chapter 4: Educators Creating Authentic Experiences between Children and Animals
What are authentic experiences and why do children need them?
How can educators build on this natural attraction of children to animals?
Programs that create authentic experiences
Chapter 5: Animals in the Classroom
What is a “caring for” experience?
Why “caring for” experiences are so important?
What kind of animals make good classroom pets?
Other considerations when choosing a classroom pet
When an animal dies/saying goodbye
Can’t bring in pets? Create other “caring for” opportunities
Animals for therapy and service
Appendices
Appendix A: Resources for educators
Appendix B: Children’s books about animals
Glossary
References
O autorze
Patty Born Selly: Patty has developed hundreds of preschool classes on nature, science, and green topics. She has also worked as a park naturalist and environmental education coordinator, a wildlife rehabilitator, zoo volunteer, and consultant for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Patty has been a preschool outreach educator for the Science Museum of Minnesota, where, in addition to teaching scores of preschool classes, she developed and delivered teacher training on inquiry-based science for early childhood and green and sustainability topics. Patty teaches early childhood science and environmental education courses at Hamline University’s Graduate School of Education and Metropolitan State University, both in St. Paul, MN. In her work as an environmental educator, Patty has done extensive research on the relationships between children and animals and how those relationships help children develop. She has also worked in many non-formal education settings and taught many children’s classes that have included such animals as snakes, mice, turtles, frogs, fish, skinks, salamanders, and even birds of prey.
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