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Want children who are more empathetic, caring and emotionally intelligent?
You should get them a dog.
Playing, caring and training dogs give kids lessons about empathy and reading emotions that no other activity can. Kids who grow up with dogs learn:
How to recognise emotions
How to respond to another living thing's needs
Social skills
Best of all? These emotional benefits happen as soon as your child interacts with your dog for the first time.
So how can dogs teach kids about emotions?
Let's find out...
Here's what you'll learn:
Dogs Are Emotional Intelligence Teachers
How Training Dogs Helps Build Empathy
Emotional Intelligence Explained
Activities To Get Started
Dogs Are Emotional Intelligence Teachers
If you spend any amount of time with dogs, it won't take you long to realise they're emotional beings.
They pick up on our body language, tone of voice and often even mirror our emotions.
That makes dogs the perfect emotional intelligence teacher for your children.
Kids watch how their dogs react to certain situations all day long. When a dog wags their tail because your child came home from school or cowers during a loud clap of thunder, your child learns that beings other than them have emotions. Empathy begins to develop and the child doesn't even realise it.
There's actually research backing this up too. Studies indicate children who grow up with dogs can become more empathetic and demonstrate higher levels of prosocial behaviour than those without dogs. The stronger the child/dog relationship, the more impactful these results.
And this isn't some complex science that parents have to teach to their children. Dogs don't judge or criticise your children. They simply love them unconditionally and provide a safe space for your child to learn about emotions, yours and their dogs'.
How Training Dogs Helps Build Empathy In Kids
Did you know…
Training your dog is actually one of the best ways to build empathy in children.
When kids learn to train dogs, they discover their behaviour has a direct impact on the dog. If they yell or act harshly, the dog may become more timid. Treat dogs well and they'll likely return the affection.
Whether you're using a dog behaviour correction collar to curb unwanted behaviours or teaching your child leash training techniques, children learn that dogs speak a language of their own. To understand what their dog needs, children must learn to read their dog's body language and behaviour.
Sound familiar? This is empathy and emotional intelligence in elementary form. By training their dog, children learn to:
Keep calm and not yell when they don't get their way
Read non-verbal queues
Understand how their actions impact others
Exercise patience and remain consistent
These are skills kids will use their entire life when it comes to working with others. Imagine how many more friends your child will make when they know how to read situations and people's emotions. Training your dog is helping with that!
And none of these training techniques have to be complicated. Feeding schedules, walk times and even basic commands are ways kids learn about responsibility and putting someone else's needs before theirs.
Emotional Intelligence Explained
Emotional intelligence starts with empathy. And empathy is what dogs teach kids.
When you care for and train your dog, you're teaching your child that their emotions are both similar to others but can also differ. Learning to care for their dog allows children to read when their dog is feeling happy, scared, anxious and more. These skills will eventually translate to how your child interacts with other people.
One poll done by the American Psychiatric Association reported that 86% of pet owners believe their pets have a positive impact on their mental health. They listed reduced stress levels, friendship and calmness as the top benefits pets provide. Dogs can provide all of those things for your child and more.
Kids who feel lonely or suffer from depression can benefit from caring for a dog. Children learn about unconditional love from their pets and often apply those feelings towards people in their life. Who knows? Your child's dog might help them make a new friend at school.
Training dogs and reading your dog's emotions can help your child build emotional intelligence. Dogs help kids…
Process their emotions
Learn how to have healthy social relationships
Feel comforted when they're upset
When your child cries, your dog won't look away like your toddler's friends might. Dogs will crawl up beside them to offer comfort. Learn to express your emotions appropriately and dogs can provide a listening ear.
All of these things lead to happier children that know how to properly care about others emotions.
Activities To Get Kids Started
Using your dog to help build your child's emotional intelligence begins with involvement.
Assign your child dog-related responsibilities. From a young age, children can help fill their dog's water bowl. Give them chores they can handle like feeding the dog or brushing their hair. Your kids should think about your dog's needs.
Have your kids help train your dog. Whether your family is teaching your pup basic commands or just going through leash training techniques, children learn a lot by being included. They begin to understand how their words, body language and tone affect your dog. Emotional intelligence begins to build when children understand how their actions influence others.
Discuss how your dog is feeling. Is your dog excited? Nervous? Relaxed? Explain it to your child and help them understand why your dog may be feeling that way. This helps your child continually watch for others' emotions.
Let your child spend time with your dog. A lot of bonding will happen when your child plays with or sits quietly with your dog. These moments are when children naturally start building emotional attachments with their dogs.
Having a dog is a great way to help your children build emotional intelligence. In fact, around 71% of U.S. homes own a pet. That means many children have access to one of the best teachers for emotional development. You just have to make sure your child is involved in your dog's care and training.
Wrap Up
Dogs do more than just fill our homes with love. They teach kids about emotion and how to read others.
Through dog training and care, children can develop:
Empathy – your child will know how to identify and respect others emotions
Emotional regulation – kids learn how to control their emotions
Responsibility – raising a dog requires your child to think about something other than themselves
Not every child will grow up with a dog, but if your child has the opportunity, give them the chance to learn from your furry friend.
Dogs could be your child's first step to becoming a more emotionally intelligent person.
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