Educators have long known that bringing therapy animals like dogs into schools helps developmentally-challenged kids learn. Now they're finding that all children can benefit from the presence of a nonjudgmental pal with paws. Pets don't just help children learn. There are actually a lot of benefits to bringing pets of all different types into your home when your kids are young. We'll walk you through the how, the when, and the why.

In this episode, we discuss:

How pets help children learn better

How pets improve children's health

How pets increase empathy and compassion in children

Here are links to some writing on the topic that we discuss in this episode: 

Elizabeth Greenwood for the New York Times: How to Introduce Pets to Babies

Bill Strickland for Parents: The Benefits of Pets for Kids

Jennifer Stauffer for Care.com: Best Pets for Kids At Every Age and Stage

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