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“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” -Jim Elliot.
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Animal-Assisted Activities |
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“..…. to nurture is to be nurtured. ” |
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The formal definition of AAA is: "AAA provides opportunities for motivational, educational, recreational, and/or therapeutic benefits to enhance quality of life. Activities are delivered in a variety of environments by specially trained professionals, paraprofessionals, and/or volunteers, in association with animals that meet specific criteria." (from Standards of Practice for Animal-Assisted Activities and Therapy)
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American Humane Association
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GOALS:
Mental Health Increase verbal interactions & attention skills between group members, including staying on task. Develop leisure/recreation skills. Increase self-esteem. Reduce anxiety. Reduce loneliness.
Educational Increase vocabulary. Aid in long or short-term memory. Improve knowledge of concepts such as size, color, etc.
Motivational. Improve willingness to be involved in a group activity. Improve interactions with others. Improve interactions with staff. Increase exercise.
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One of the greatest things about AAA is it gives people the opportunity to interact and give love in a safe, non-judgmental environment. The act of giving can make a person feel better and more worthwhile about themselves overall, but it can be hard for people with low self-esteem. The fear of rejection is not easy to cope with, but through AAA a person is often able to reconnect with their desire to simply care about another living being and overcome their own fears as they realize the needs of the animal. Participants are often strengthened in their ability to love and take risks, and are able to find courage and belief in themselves and transfer those skills to their own environments. Love empowers you to hope again.
When a person is feeling afraid or insecure, working with animals helps sensitize the person to the animal's needs, which engenders respect and promotes empathy; empathy which will transfer to experiences with humans as learning continues. Many children from dysfunctional homes are abusive to animals because it is what they’ve seen modeled. Over 70% of aggressive, incarcerated criminals were reported as being abusive to animals as children (Advocate, l987; Sussman, l985). Giving these children a chance to work with AAA and to observe the handler as a caring role model gives children a chance to relearn a more responsible, loving way using experiential learning activities.
Sometimes individuals are abusive because of a lack of nurturing and personal need fulfillment. Children deprived of nurturing are often unable to nurture others. According to Aaron Katcher (l992), the measured brain waves of an individual being nurtured are the same as an individual nurturing. Thus, to nurture is to be nurtured. Teaching an individual to care for a small, helpless animal teaches nurturing, and in turn, the opportunity to nurture can be a nurturing experience for the individual person as well as the animal. Children usually find that it is easier to give to an animal than to a person, and much less threatening; and as confidence in that relationship is built, so then are successful relationships.
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“Ask the animals, they will teach you.” Job 12:7 |
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BENEFITS of AAA
(compliments of The Delta Society)
Empathy: (Identifying with and understanding the feelings and motives of another.) Studies report that children who live in homes in which a pet is considered a member of the family are more empathetic than children in homes without pets. Children see animals as peers. It is easier to teach children to be empathetic with an animal than with a human. Understanding what an animal is feeling is easier than determining what a person is feeling because the animal is straightforward and lives in the moment. Outward Focus: (Bringing individuals out of themselves.) Individuals who have mental illness or low self-esteem focus on themselves; animals can help them focus on their environment. Rather than thinking and talking about themselves and their problems, they watch and talk to and about the animals. Nurturing: (Promoting the growth and development of another living thing.) Nurturing skills are learned. Many at-risk children have not learned nurturing skills through the traditional channel - their parents. By being taught to take care of an animal, the children can develop these skills. Psychologically, when a person nurtures, his/her need to be nurtured is being fulfilled. Rapport: (A relationship of mutual trust or a feeling of connection or bonding.) Animals can open a channel of emotionally safe, non-threatening communication between a client and other participants. In this type of learning environment, animals help present an air of emotional safety. When a facilitator has an animal present in a session, s/he "can't be all bad." The animal helps open a path through the person's initial resistance. Children are especially likely to project their feelings and experiences onto an animal. Acceptance: (Favorable reception or approval.) Animals have a way of accepting without a care of how a person looks or what they say. An animal's acceptance is nonjudgmental, forgiving, and uncomplicated by the psychological games people often play. Entertainment: At a minimum, the presence of an animal can be entertaining. Even people who don't like animals often enjoy watching their antics and reactions. Especially in residential facilities, it seems everyone is entertained by animal visits in some way. Socialization: (Seeking out or enjoying the company of others.) Studies have shown that when dogs and cats come to visit a care facility, there is more laughter and interaction among residents than during any other "therapy" or entertainment time. In an inpatient setting, the presence of animals encourages socialization in 3 ways: · Between clients. · Between clients and staff. Between clients, staff, and family or other visitors. Staff members have reported that it is easier to talk to residents during and after animal visits. Family members often come during the animal visits and some have reported that it is an especially comfortable and pleasant time to come. Mental Stimulation: Mental stimulation occurs because of increased communication with other people, recalled memories, and the entertainment provided by the animals. In situations that are depressing or institutional, the presence of the animals serves to brighten the atmosphere, increasing amusement, laughter, and play. These positive distractions may help to decrease people's feelings of isolation or alienation. Physical Contact, Touch: Much has been written about the correlation between touch and health. Infants who are not touched do not develop healthy relationships with other people and often fail to thrive and grow physically. For some people, touch from another person is often invasive or unacceptable, but the warm, furry touch of a dog or cat is safe, non-threatening, and pleasant. There are a number of programs for people who have been physically or sexually abused in which staff and volunteers are advised not to touch the clients. In cases like these, having an animal to hold, hug, and touch can make a world of difference to people who would otherwise have no positive, appropriate physical contact. Many people are able to relax when animals are present. Tests have shown that the decrease in heart rate and blood pressure can be dramatic Something More:. When they are with animals, some people feel spiritual fulfillment or a sense of oneness with life and nature. Some well-known authors have described their relationships with animals and nature as part of their sustaining life energy and/or part of their communion and relationship with God. Albert Schweitzer, George W. Carver, and J. Allen Boone (author of Kinship with All Life), among others, often expressed this "something more" in their writing and work. |
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Heartland Experiential Learning Programs, Inc. (H.E.L.P.) 386-756-3669 |
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HELP our vision become reality for FOSTER KIDS! |
