Can dogs prevent bullying and teach kids empathy? Accepting the differences in others makes us all better people. Sheriff Sheldon’s Deputies of Safety Coloring Book helps children learn to be accepting, loving, and sensitive to the needs of others through the bond that is built with the family pet. Through this unique coloring book, the whole family can learn how to keep the family pet and the children safe at home and around town and to be more caring, less bullying, and have empathy at the same time. It comes with an online safety course and a free club that has monthly activities for the children and dog to do together or with the whole family. The coloring book and online course can be used individually at home or as a group activity or schooling aide.
We recently taught dog safety at the Atlanta Pet expo. From this experience, we created a new coloring book to accompany the Sheriff Sheldon Deputies of Safety online course. For a limited time, when you purchase the coloring book through Amazon, you receive the course and membership to the online Safety Club for FREE ($49.00 value.)
Go to https://pawsiloveyou.com/coloring-books for link to Amazon page to order the coloring book for only $12.00 that includes FREE course and FREE monthly Ruff Rider’s club.”
According to the research: Can dogs prevent bullying and teach kids empathy?
So, can dogs prevent bullying and teach kids empathy? The Everyday Health site states, “Pet ownership teaches all kids about empathy and caring,” says Dr. Gold. He advises matching a child’s level of responsibility for the pet to the child’s age and ability. For example, 5-year-old might be able to assist with grooming, feeding, and walking but should not be expected to do any of these chores by themselves. Kids of middle-school age may be able to take on some solo family pet care responsibility with reminders from a parent. https://www.everydayhealth.com/family-health/health-benefits-of-pets.aspx
For additional information on how training and interacting with dogs helps builds empathy, see the following articles:
- American Kennel Club: “Dogs Teach Empathy, Prevent Bullying to At-Risk Youth in NYC Schools” at https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/dog-prevent-bullying-in-schools/.
- The Washington Post: “Want to raise empathetic kids? Get them a dog” at https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/04/14/want-to-raise-empathetic-kids-get-them-a-dog/