Our Nova Pioneer had an opportunity to expose our students to animals when they hosted MobileZoo at the North Riding campus. As part of the Nova Pioneer learning approach we believe that learning doesn’t only occur in the classroom. Through this experience, our students were able to enjoy an interactive and educational session with various wild animals.

The unique interactive experience exposed our students to animals that they would not normally see outside of the zoo and they had the chance to engage with them inside their school. Research has shown that there is value in exposing children to animals and also establishing a bond between animals and children during their early stages of development.

Have a look at some of the benefits that come with exposing children to animals:

• Animals can help children develop a sensitivity to others

We saw this during the MobileZoo visit when the students showed extra care when they were handling the furry animals that had visited them at their school.

• Animals ignite cognitive curiosity in children

Our students were full of questions as they were introduced to the various creatures. The students wanted to know what the animals eat, where they originate from, whether they bite and many other questions came out of the MobileZoo visit.

• Animals make children more aware of the environment

Finding out that some of the animals that came to visit our Novaneers were endangered species made the students realise what is at stake when they do not play their part in looking after the environment that they share with the animals.

• Animals help children overcome their fears

We saw a number of our Novaneers overcome their fear of snakes when MobileZoo brought with them a friendly snake to meet the students. Some of the children were initially scared but they gradually warmed up to the snake when they saw that it was not dangerous.

• Animals encourage positive energy in children

During the MobileZoo visit at campus our school was filled with laughter and happiness as each animal was being introduced to our students. It was evident that the visit from the MobileZoo animals brought happiness to our school.

Source: https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/articles/2015/connecting-animals-and-children