Growing Kids How it Works


Empathy - the ability to be able to 'step into someone else's shoes' and see life from their point of view.

The ability to recognise and empathise with the feelings of others, and to respond appropriately, is the basis of positive social interaction and harmony at home, at school and in the community. When it is present, conscience, self-control, respect, kindness, tolerance and fairness can all develop.

Through GROWING KIDS AND PUPS, students observe and are involved in the emotional, social and physical development of a newborn baby and a newborn puppy throughout their first year of life.

They are guided in their observation of the parents' response to their baby and to the nurturing which they provide. They observe the attachment which caring parents have to their child and learn to recognise and discuss the emotions involved. Their ability to read body language will also be developed.

Through parallel observation of the development and motivational training of a puppy the students are encouraged to relate to other living beings in a nurturing way. They are shown that puppies, like babies, are totally dependent on the quality of the care that we provide. They see many examples of behavioural change taking place positively. They experience some of the ways in which companion animals can enhance the lives of humans.

This involvement in identifying the changing needs of the baby and puppy leads to discussions as to how those needs can be met.

The emotional and social skills that the students develop will be practiced in the school and community environments. Students undertaking this program will have an enhanced understanding of their place in their community and in the effect their behaviour may have on others. They will also be assisted in responding appropriately to the behaviour of others.

Teachers are invited to expand on the topics raised and to integrate them into their classroom syllabus in the areas of English, maths, studies of society and the environment, health, music, art and science. 		baby
The baby and the pups will grow at very different rates
but both need the same high level of care if they are
to be "healthy and happy"
puppies


Who participates, and what are their roles?

Program developer, Maisie Griffiths, acts as facilitator for the program, liaising with the teachers and members of the community who visit the school to assist in the development of aspects of the program. The mother of a newborn baby and a new puppy and it's owner, visit the school on a regular basis throughout the year.

The program has focussed on kindergarten age students, who are matched with a buddy from an older age group. The aim is to provide a cross-age experience and a chance to interact with and assist the development of the younger child.

Maisie provides a fortnightly lesson, with the help of the puppy and handler, and baby and parent, and suggests ideas for the integration of that material across the curriculum. The children may also visit the RSPCA and the CDC during the course of the year.


What areas of the curriculum are covered?

GROWING KIDS focuses on those areas which particularly interest children, and links them with the established school curriculum and the nurturing of moral and emotional intelligence.

The teachers incorporate aspects of the program into their health, maths, English, studies of society & the environment, science and personal development. They compare and contrast the needs of the puppy and baby with human needs and those of other dependent living things.

As well as the development of empathy, which is vital for healthy and happy personal and community relationships, the program also looks at other areas of emotional/moral development such as conscience, self control, respect, kindness, tolerance and fairness.


Future Plans

By 2008, it was becoming clear that it would be difficult for Maisie to find funding and to continue the full program without help. Several short programs were run, such as "Safety Around Dogs" and "Growing and Changing".

Communities @ Work (The community service for Weston Creek and Tuggeranong) had expressed an interest in finding ways to develop and expand the program.

By the beginning of 2010 a business plan had been written and accepted. Communities @ Work are currently (May 2010) seeking funding to trial "Growing Kids" in one of their after-school care programs, to train new presenters and to develop a program handbook.

Watch this space to find out how the story continues.......



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