Exploring the Benefits of Therapy Dogs in Early Childhood, Big World of Little Dude USA

This week host Simone Brand chats with guest Cara Zelas, an Early Childhood Educator, Montessori teacher, social emotional learning expert, and dog therapy advocate. Cara is the founder of Big World of Little Dude, an educational platform teaching children social and emotional skills by providing books for parents and the HumanKIND Curriculum for teachers. Join us as Cara discusses the powerful impact of therapy dogs in early learning environments. We explore how these furry friends enhance children's emotional development, foster kindness, and create calming classrooms.Discussion highlights:Benefits of therapy dogs for children's emotional well-being.Using therapy dogs to help create a calming classroom environment.Boosting a young child’s confidence and self-esteem through interactions with therapy dogs.Integrating SEL with therapy dog experiences (aligned with EYLF V2.0).Teaching responsibility and respect through animal interaction.Practical strategies for safe and successful therapy dog integration.Educators will discover how therapy dogs can be valuable tools in early childhood education, promoting emotional growth, empathy, and positive social interactions.Find out more:http://www.worldoflittledude.com/https://www.instagram.com/worldoflittledudehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/carazelas/https://www.facebook.com/WorldofLittleDude/ If you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving us a review on your favourite podcast platform.Have questions or feedback? Connect with us on social media or email us at [email protected] with Us:- Website: www.learnplaythrive.com.au- Instagram: @learnplaythrive_- Facebook: @Learn Play Thrive Australia- Email: [email protected]