Classroom pets may seem like a lot of extra work and responsibility to some, but the truth is that having pets in the classroom has many educational benefits for young children.
Caring for a pet can help young children develop important social-emotional, oral language, science, math, and literacy skills.
Benefits of Having a Classroom Pet
Caring for a pet can help young children develop empathy. As they help take care of and feed your classroom pet, they will start to become more aware of the feelings and needs of others – a big step for little ones!
Providing your students with a real world experience such as caring for a live animal is also a very effective way to teach responsibility. You may even want to create a classroom job where students take turns feeding and caring for your classroom pet. This is sure to be the coveted job in your classroom!
What Is A Good Pet For A Classroom?
There are so many different types of pets to consider for your classroom. Before you choose a class pet you’ll want to weigh all of your options carefully.
These are some of the most popular classroom pets for preschool.
- Hermit Crab
- Guinea Pigs
- Betta Fish
Many teachers choose hermit crabs or Betta fish because they are very inexpensive and easy to care for.
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Guinea pigs are also popular because they can actually be held and touched by the students. The act of holding another living thing can have a very calming and soothing effect on young children.
You can purchase your pet from a pet store, or you can ask your local community on Facebook if anybody has a pet they are looking to re-home. There are also grants available for U.S. and Canadian teachers who want to get started with a classroom pet.
Introducing a Classroom Pet
Picture books are the best way to introduce almost any concept in an early childhood classroom, and pets are no exception.
Here are a few books about choosing pets your students may enjoy:
- Not Norman: A Goldfish Story by Kelly Bennett
- I Wanna Iguana by Karen Kaufman Orloff
- The Perfect Pet by Margie Palatini
Read one of these books above and invite your kids to discuss the different pet possibilities for your classroom.
Naming Your Classroom Pet
After you’ve chosen your class pet, invite your students to help you name the pet. Start by recording the children’s name suggestions on chart paper, then narrow the choices down to two or three.
Next, write the name suggestions across the top of a piece of chart paper and invite students to “vote” by writing their name below their favorite choice.
Are Classroom Pets A Good Idea?
Having classroom pets can be a big responsibility, it’s important to think carefully before making the decision to get a pet for your classroom.
Ask yourself the following questions before getting a class pet:
- Does your governing agency (program, licensing, district etc.) allow pets?
- Do you have any students with allergies to certain pets?
- Are you willing to care for your pet on weekends and school holidays?
- What will happen if your pet gets sick and needs to be seen by a veterinarian?
- Who will pay for the pet’s food and accessories?
When you know and understand all of the different aspects of having a classroom pet you’ll be better prepared to make the right decision for you and your class.
And having a classroom pet can also provide some great benefits to the classroom:
- helps build responsibility
- build empathy
- a bond to the natural world
- respect for living creatures
- fun and creative additions to your lesson plans
- an enthusiasm from your children that can’t be beat!
Of course, being a responsible pet owner is a must. Please don’t get a classroom pet unless you’re willing to care for it during school closures, holidays, and vacations. All too often, class pets end up being surrendered to animal shelters, which isn’t fair to the animal.
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