Animals

How to bring together animals and children for play

05/08/2024 "Animals and their connection to humans of all ages provide benefits to health at every stage of life" - argues Jenny Phillips. In this piece, she proposes ways to incorporate animals into your play provision.

Hooves in assisting behaviour – Equine therapy

10/05/2022 Horses' empathetic and social nature can cause any in their presence to feel calm and centred. Jenny Phillips explores different types and applications of equine therapy, and their impact on our behaviour in reference to the Triune brain theory.

How animals affect children's development and mental health

29/04/2022 Children's environment plays a key role in their growth, their interactions with others and their self-image. In this piece, Jenny Phillips looks at different animals and their direct impact on children's mental health.

Animals and their paws-itive effect on human health

22/04/2022 "Animals and their connection to humans of all ages provide benefits to health at every stage of life" - argues Jenny Phillips. In this piece, she analyses animals' direct impact on the strength of our immune systems and engagement with nature.

Llamas and alpacas – a new approach to Animal-Assisted Therapy

13/04/2022 Llamas and alpacas are not only known for their calming presence, but also their fleecy coats, which provide sensory comfort to trauma victims. Ruth Mcguire investigates their use in animal-assisted therapy (AAT) across different establishments.

Pets and autistic children

05/04/2022 It's widely recognised that pets are fantastic companions, supporting both our physical fitness and emotional wellbeing. But how can they support children with autism? Claire Montague explores that question, looking at different research findings.

Playing our part in saving the planet

24/02/2022 In light of the recently held COP26 climate summit, it's even more evident that change must happen to save our planet. In this piece, Ruth McGuire provides some ideas on how we can incorporate small lifestyle changes to reduce waste and pollution.

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