Introduction
Dogs and cows seem to have their own place in the world – they’re in your cartoons, television sitcoms, books and even movies. Pre-school children are aware of this. Why not include them into our lessons today? Children love animals, be it a dog, cat or hamster. You can even include teddies and stuffed toys for 3 to 4 years old kids. Dogs and cats can be used for vocabulary on active and passive voices and setting up dogs helps them get familiar with print.
A class pet is a great way to teach kids about animals and responsibility. Students learn how to care for an animal and understand it’s needs. It can also promote social skills when students work together to do something that benefits the classroom pet. As much as I love dogs, they’re not always the best choice for a classroom pet. They require too much maintenance, attention, and space. Kids need to get up close with the pets in order to really interact with them and learn from them. So forget goldfish! Let’s take a look at some better options for your preschool classroom:
Dogs
Dogs are also a great option for classrooms. They’re easy to take care of and can be trained to do tricks and other fun activities with the children, which will keep them entertained. Dogs are generally very friendly, so even if you have a shy student who is afraid of dogs, he or she may still warm up to one eventually.
Dogs also make excellent pets for children who have allergies because they don’t shed fur like cats do—instead, they slough off dead skin cells just like we humans do! This makes it easier for kids who have asthma or other respiratory issues related to allergies (like my son).
Cats
Cats make great pets for children. They are low maintenance, cuddly, quiet, and good companions for children. Children learn responsibility when they care for the cat and it can teach them empathy as well. Cats can even help children who have learning difficulties such as ADHD because they learn to focus by playing games with the cat or watching it play (and not getting distracted by other things).
Rabbits
Rabbits are social animals and make great classroom pets. They’re clean and easy to care for, and they’re very active. Rabbits can be litter box trained, so there won’t be a mess in your classroom. Rabbits can also be trained to use a harness and leash!
For this reason, many preschools use rabbits as classroom pets because they require little space or care (just like a hamster).
Hamsters
Hamsters are a wonderful choice for classroom pets. They’re very social and friendly, so they do well living in groups of their own kind. In fact, hamsters who live with other hamsters tend to be happier and more entertaining than those who live alone. However, though they enjoy the company of their own species, they are still mild-mannered enough that they can easily get along with people. Hamsters also require little care; they don’t need daily walks or baths like dogs or cats do!
In addition to being easy to care for and nocturnal (which means they sleep during the day when children are at school), hamsters make excellent classroom pets because many children are allergic to dogs and/or cats but not allergic to them (meaning that some areas where animals aren’t allowed would otherwise be off-limits). Finally: Hamsters have been shown by research studies conducted at several universities across America that if kept in small cages in groups (instead of individually), then released into large open spaces such as classrooms after school hours end each day–they will act like normal domestic house pets instead of wild animals
Reptiles
Reptiles are a popular choice among classroom pets. They require minimal care and are easy to keep in your classroom. Reptiles do not create any mess, so cleaning up their droppings shouldn’t be a problem. Many reptiles also don’t require socialization, making them ideal for young children who may be uncomfortable around other animals or people.
Reptiles are typically kept in tanks or cages that can be easily cleaned on a regular basis. You will want to make sure that you provide plenty of water for your reptile’s habitat so they stay hydrated throughout the day while they’re in school with your students.
Takeaway:
The takeaway for you, the educator, is that there are a variety of classroom pets that can help provide your students with an enriching educational experience. Whether you are teaching pre-schoolers or high schoolers, there are many benefits to incorporating animals into the classroom environment.
- They help build empathy in children by getting them to think about how other living things feel and act.
- They provide a chance for students to practice social skills such as kindness and compassion toward others.
- They give kids something fun to play with during recess breaks when they are at their most energetic–and they also help get them focused on learning again when they come back into class after those breaks!
Conclusion
So what’s the best pet for preschool?
It depends on you.