Middle Leader News
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Firstly, I want to thank you for all of the positivity surrounding the introduction of Daisy the Therapy Dog! Staff, students and parents seem to have taken quite a liking to our four-legged friend. When I’ve visited classrooms with Daisy, I’ve often explained to the students that she is my dog at home, but all of ours at school! It has been such a privilege to see the connections that many students (and adults) have begun to form with Daisy, which I hope will continue to develop as she begins to become ‘part of the furniture’ on her Thursday visits.
What does Daisy Do All Day?
A question I often get asked is, “What does Daisy do all day?” It can sometimes be a little tricky to answer this question because it is so different each day! We spend some time in classrooms, working with small groups or individual students on their learning. If a student is hurt or sad, Daisy and I will try to cheer them up. We visit the playground and children are able to pat Daisy, walk her around, try and do some tricks with her or even create their own game involving her. Sometimes she acts as a reward when children have worked well. Often, it is just her being here that makes the most difference. It is the smile she puts on everyone’s faces. It is the calmness she creates!
What are the benefits of a therapy dog?
Dogs in the classroom provide both physical and emotional health benefits for students. According to one study published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), having a dog present in the classroom promotes a positive mood and provides significant anti-stress effects on the body. In fact, the simple act of petting a dog has the effect of lowering blood pressure and heart rate. In other words, just being in contact with a therapy dog calms kids down when they’re upset and helps keep their anxiety at bay. And reducing feelings of anxiety and depression enables them to focus on learning. Perhaps the greatest benefit of therapy dogs in the classroom is the effect on students’ social-emotional development. Loving and lovable, dogs are friendly companions and good listeners who make no judgements. Children bond easily with these gentle creatures, helping them feel more connected and confident.
What’s the difference between a therapy dog and a service dog?
There is a distinct difference between service dogs and therapy dogs. Service dogs help individuals with specific disabilities, such as visual impairment or seizure disorders. Therapy dogs provide comfort and support to all students within the school community. They are trained to use their social instincts and learned social skills to provide health, social-emotional, and cognitive benefits.
Some information taken from https://www.weareteachers.com/dogs-in-the-classroom/#:~:text=Therapy%20dogs%20not%20only%20have,even%20optimizes%20executive%2Dfunctioning%20skills.
Have a wonderful week!
Warm Regards
Nicki Prentice
