Animal Emotions

Do animals think and feel?

by Marc Bekoff

Kids & animals: What are they thankful for and what are their dreams?

Kid's can tell us all how we should treat other animals

Published on January 26, 2011 by Marc Bekoff, Ph.D. in Animal Emotions

In a previous essay I stressed how important it is that we teach the children well. I wrote: Children are inherently and intuitively curious naturalists. They're sponges for knowledge, absorbing, retaining and using new information at astounding rates. We all know this, but often we forget when we're helping to develop their roles as future ambassadors with other animals, nature and ourselves. Some are also future leaders on whose spirit and good will many of us will depend. They will be other animals' and our voices, indeed, voices of the universe. So, it makes good sense to teach children well, to be role models, to infuse their education with kindness and  compassion so that their decisions are founded on a deeply rooted, automatic reflex-like caring ethic. If we don't, they, we, other animals, human communities and environments will suffer.

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Now, a new online book (Kids & animals) offers a unique glimpse of what kids around the world are thankful for and what their dreams and hopes are. The book centers on the guiding principles of Jane Goodall's world-wide Roots & Shoots program whose basic tenets are that every individual is important and every individual makes a difference. The program is activity oriented and members partake in projects that have three components: care and concern for animals, human communities, and the places in which we all live together. I work closely with different Roots & Shoots groups around the world.

It is our goal that Kids & animals will inspire other young people to draw and write about their feelings for animals and to put their own ideas into action to care for animals, protect their habitats, and promote compassion, empathy, coexistence, and peace. It is perfect for classes, discussions, and activities focusing on humane education and conservation education so that we can all expand our compassion footprint (see also).

The bottom line is pretty simple: teach the children well, treat the teachers well, and treasure all. It's a win-win situation for everyone. Nurture and provide the seeds of compassion, empathy, and love with all the nutrients children need to develop deep respect for, and kinship with, the universe. All people, other animals, human communities, and environments now and in the future, will benefit greatly by developing and maintaining heart-felt compassion that is as reflexive as breathing. Compassion begets compassion -- there's no doubt about it.