By: Tabatha Lorch

Designing Information Programs for Children and Youth

LIBM 6371

Fall 2011*Certain materials are included under the fair use exemptions of the

U.S. Copyright Law and have been prepared according to the educational multimedia fair use guidelines and are restricted from

further use.

Calming the Beast Inside with a Pet

I chose to implement a pet therapy program for students in the elementary school. We will use the library pets to help students feel more comfortable at school and hopefully decrease behavioral problems.

Program Description

Some of the library pets

Pet therapy uses pets to help relieve stress. Research has shown that pets help alleviate stress and have calming effects on their owners (“Pet Therapy,” 2007).

There has also been research that reveals that pets can have a positive effect on children that have autism and attention deficit disorder. Having a consistent companion helps improve a child’s communication and social skills (McCoy, 2010).

Why Pet Therapy?

The objective of this program is to better acclimate the children with the process of school by making them feel more comfortable and to reduce behavioral problems by giving them a purpose for being at school by letting them be responsible for a pet.

Objectives and Goals

The program targets students in kindergarten to second grade that have autism, attention deficit disorder, or behavioral issues that make it difficult for them to adjust to a school setting.

The program will be held the first Thursday of every other month in the Southside Elementary School Media Center from 6 to 7 p.m.

The students involved in the program will come to the library every morning when they get off the bus or are dropped off to help take care of their “pet”.

Audience and Location

Elementary Media Specialist, Neela Nuckolls, starts the meeting off by reading a book about pets. We hope that children associate their new pets with the library and begin enjoying to read!!!!!

Let's Get Started!!!

The students pick their new “pets”.

Next

Sophie the Hedgehog

Hermie the Albino Hedgehog

Smokey the Guinea Pig

Charlie the Hamster

Students Get to Know Their Pets

Students will come to the library each day to feed and care for their new “pet”.

They will take pictures to record their memories and present them at the next meeting.

Pet Care and Photo Albums

Neela Nuckolls, Southside Elementary School Media Specialist

Batesville PetsDollar GeneralHarps

Special Thanks

This program has been very fun and educational. I hope to continue working with the program, and that it helps provide these students with a purpose and a desire to be at school. I anticipate that it will help them cope with school better. Studies show that pet therapy can do all of these things because pets provide unconditional love and commitment to children as well as help teach them responsibility (Marner, 2010).

Conclusion

Marner, K. (2010). ADHD and pet therapy. Retrieved from: http://www.additudemag.

com/adhdblogs/4/print/6558/htmlMcCoy, K. (2010, January 12). How pet

therapy can help autism. Retrieved from: http://www.everdayhealth.

com/autism/how-pet- therapy-can-help.aspxPet therapy. (2007). Retrieved from:

http://www.holisticonline.com/stress/stress_pet-t herapy.htm

All photographs were taken by Tabatha Lorch

References