Children’s camps with animals. What are the benefits?
We will tell you all about the benefits of children's camps with animals. Find out how caring for animals influences children's social development.
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Summer camps and summer schools allow children to interact with each other and have wonderful fun experiences. If these camps are based on learning about and caring for animals, children will gain great benefits that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
In the Mediterranean, there are multiple options for camps, farms and summer schools based on animal care. In addition, some of them offer inclusive activities for children with and without learning difficulties, which makes their stay much more enriching.
The value of responsibility. What tasks can a child take on?
Animal camps, farms and summer schools are a great way for children to develop their empathy and love for animals, and also to learn the responsibility of caring for them.
During their stay, the children learn and take on simple tasks, such as:
- Feeding the animals.
- Ensure that they always have enough clean water.
- Take care of their daily hygiene such as washing and brushing furry animals like dogs, horses or donkeys.
- Make sure that their beds and toys are tidied up.
- Take them out for walks and play in the case of dogs, horses or small animals.
- Collecting eggs, in the case of hens.
- Respect their rest schedules.
How does animal care improve children's social development?
Some benefits of these camps are:
- It improves their mood.
- Awakens their interest in discovering new experiences.
Increases motivation to learn.
It improves the relationship with others, be they animals or people. - It encourages empathy, putting oneself in the other person's shoes.
- Increases love and care for their environment.
- They learn to listen, observe and accept the variety of animals and people as something enriching.
- It awakens tenderness and the desire to care for others and themselves.
- It makes them happy.
- They learn to be responsible and want to collaborate with the tasks suitable for their age.
Benefits of living with animals in childhood
Sometimes, after these camps, children reaffirm their love for animals and feel ready to be responsible and take care of a pet at home, which can bring them great benefits such as:
- Feeling closeness and safety.
- Reducing stress and helping them to stay calm.
- Having an age-appropriate responsibility that makes them feel useful.
- Awakens an interest in caring for others.
- They are more responsible towards their family, friends and environment.
- Encourages exercise.
- The animal is a source of emotional support that helps them to overcome the fears and limitations of their age.
- They learn to bond with another living being.
