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 in upstate New York and Northern California and Animal Acres outside of Los Angeles offer guided tours (see links in 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. Urge the children to report any acts of animal cruelty (including from their friends) that they may witness such as rock throwing or torturing an animal to either you, another adult or teacher. And if you see your child do something to harm pets or wildlife, make sure to reprimand them and teach them 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 below).
• 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 below).
• 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 below).
• 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

[MidniteWriter]

on 1/27/2008 Great advice. Kids love animals but they need to know how to properly treat and care for them and your article helps this! Love the poster idea!

[grouch]

on 1/21/2008 Exposure is great for both the animal and the child. Thanks for the tips.