A friendly wagging tail frequently greets children who attend the Boathouse, a resource base for children with autistic spectrum conditions. Luna the therapy dog is a reassuring and calming presence and is so integral to practice that she is listed as one of the team at Redriff Primary School in Rotherhithe, London.
Jack Gibbs, assistant head teacher for special educational needs and SENCO, suggested that the school should invest in a therapy dog after reading research highlighting that children with autism can benefit from their presence. These benefits include:
A study conducted by the Journal of Pediatric Nursing that surveyed the families of children who have autism found that 94 per cent of those with a pet dog bonded strongly with it. It is thought that, even for autistic children without a dog at home, interacting with a dog can benefit their social behaviour.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here
