How to Teach Children Humane Education

Animals share our world--and the best time to learn to treat animals kindly and coexist with them--is when you're young. Here are some important things for both parents and teachers to include in humane education.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Go over the basic needs of animals such as food, water, shelter, companionship and health/nutrition. For instance, when discussing companionship, explain why tethering or chaining pets is not a good idea.

2. Explain that although animals can't speak, they experience pain, hunger, fear, loneliness and other emotions similar to humans. Always refer to dogs, cats and other pets as "he" or "she" rather than "it."

3. Discuss the importance of spaying/neutering, including the health benefits, and how controlling pet overpopulation will decrease the number of homeless animals.

4. Teach an easily memorizable slogan such as "Kindness, Care, Compassion." Have the children make posters with these slogans to hang up in their rooms.

5. Visit an animal shelter. Let the children observe how the animals are cared for, and in accordance with what the shelter allows, let them take turns with hands-on duties like dog walking and cleanup. Also visit sanctuaries that house rescued farm animals. Most sanctuaries such as Farm Sanctuary (upstate New York and Northern California), Animal Acres (outside of Los Angeles) and Gentle Barn (outside of Los Angeles) offer guided tours (see Resources below).

6. Take a trip to the park and observe the animal inhabitants such as squirrels, birds and ducks. Discuss behaviors that may scare or harm the animals, as well as things the kids can do that will benefit them.

7. Visit a pet supply store and go over the basics that a pet owner needs in caring for a pet. You might also discuss the pros and cons of different toys and other pet products.

8. If teaching a class, arrange a guest visit from a veterinarian, vet tech or staff member/volunteer from an animal shelter or rescue. If you're a parent, ask permission from your vet to arrange a behind-the-scenes visit for your child and perhaps a friend.

9. Discuss animal issues that are in the news. Talk about new laws that benefit animals.

10. Ask the child to pick a celebrity role model, such as an animal advocate or one who has rescued pets. Explain that the trend for some celebrities to carry their dog around for show is not always in the best interest of the animal.

11. With older children, discuss why it's best not to buy puppies from pet shops and explain the general concept of puppy mills. Encourage adoption from shelters and rescues with catchy slogans for them to remember such as "Don't Shop...It's Kinder to Adopt."

12. Teach "Max's Animal Compassion Curriculum" (MACC), which is geared towards children ages 6 to 8 (first and second grade). It helps teachers, educators and individuals bring animal compassion into the classroom. MACC teaches children the importance of adopting from shelters and inspires them to help homeless pets in need. It also helps build character and confidence by having the children help, and possibly save another being. It is based on the book, "Max, the Shelter Dog," the story of a pit bull named "Max," who was abandoned at a shelter by his family. The story is from Max's perspective as he makes his way through the shelter system hoping to get adopted by a new family. Until further notice, you can order "Max, the Shelter Dog" and receive another free copy that you can donate to a local school or library (see Resources).

    In the future, there will be a downloadable document of the MACC curriculum. In the meantime you can request a copy by emailing: [e-mail]

13. Urge children to report to you, another adult or teacher any acts of animal cruelty (including from their friends) that they may witness, such as rock throwing or torturing an animal. If you see your own child do something to harm pets or wildlife, make sure to reprimand him/her and teach that it's not acceptable.

Tips & Warnings

• Let children know they can make a difference.

• PETAKids is a website where kids can subscribe for the free magazine "GRRR!" which features celebrity interviews. The ASPCA's Animaland is another fun website for children (see Resources).

• American Humane Association offers "Be Kind to Animals" and "Be Kind to Animals...and People, Too!" units for grades K to 12. All materials can be downloaded, including a Humane Education Pledge Form. The curriculum is easy for first-time humane educators to use (see Resources).

• Share The World provides activities and a free video geared toward grades 3 to 5. You can request a free humane education kit be mailed to you (see Resources).

• Don't go into graphic detail when discussing animal cruelty stories in the news. Focus on the positive, such as new laws that benefit animals.

Resources

• PETAKids
• ASPCA Animaland
• American Humane Association
• Share The World
• Farm Sanctuary
• Animal Acres
• Order Max The Shelter Dog