Connecting Animals and Children in Early Childhood - by Patty Born Selly (Paperback)

About the Book

This resource helps educators and caregivers understand why all species of animals are valuable to children's early learning.

Book Synopsis

Understand the value of connecting animals and children

From family pets and wild animals to toys, stuffed animals, and media images, animals are a central part of every child's landscape. This book examines the reasons why children should interact and connect with real animals, and it identifies the rich learning that results. You'll find heaps of foundational support and practical ideas to create authentic experiences that bring children and all kinds of species of animals together--including many adaptations if live animals are not permitted in your setting.

Connecting Animals and Children in Early Childhood

Examines the basic qualities that make animals so appealing to children
Explains how animals impact children's cognitive, social-emotional, and inter- and intrapersonal development and growth
Includes an overview of the many ways animals are present in children's lives
Introduces authentic experiences with animals that are supportive of children's understanding and learning, and respectful to both animals and people
Provides real-life examples of how to bring animals into your classroom with suggestions for planning, ideas for finding the right pet, and resources for making experiences meaningful, relevant, and joyful for children

Patty Born Selly is executive director of the National Center for STEM Elementary Education at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota. As the founder of Small Wonders, an educational consulting company offering services to schools, faith-based communities, and other organizations, Patty has developed hundreds of classes to help programs incorporate nature, science, and green education.

Review Quotes

"Author Patty Born Selly begins by outlining the rationale for connecting children with animals in deep and meaningful ways in their early childhood. . . Recommended for early childhood educators, parents would also find relevance in the book's information and activities." --Green Teacher

"A beautifully written, beautifully illustrated, and succinct guide to children's connection with animals--its origins, its manifestations, its benefits, and how to promote it. Highly recommended."
--Howard Frumkin, MD, DrPH, Dean and Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Public Health

"Selly's book is an outstanding, informative, and inspiring examination of our complex and potentially beneficial relationship with nonhuman animals. Well-written and illustrated, the book provides a thorough understanding of the various ways humanity is enriched and enhanced by its connection with both wild and domesticated animals. The book is also realistic and practical, offering various pathways for particularly children to engage and learn from other life."
--Stephen R. Kellert, Professor Emeritus, Yale University, and author of Birthright: People and Nature in the Modern World

"What a wonderful resource for parents, grandparents, early childhood professionals, daycare providers, and anyone caring for children. This delightful, enjoyable, and useful book is full of solid information about the magical relationship between children and animals."
--David Walsh, PhD, psychologist and author

"I enjoyed Connecting Animals and Children in Early Childhood. It is a well written resource that is easy to read, includes great pictures to share with children, and contains good information on how pets at home and in early education classrooms can help children learn about feelings. I would recommend Connecting Animals and Children in Early Childhood to anyone who brings a pet into a young child's life."
--Chad Dunkley, Chief Operating Officer, New Horizon Academy

"Connecting Animals and Children in Early Childhood is an engaging text that presents strong connections between background knowledge and practical, hands-on approaches to including animals in children's lives. Patty does an excellent job integrating research with practical ideas for supporting child development and the child-animal bond. Key aspects to child development such as social-emotional, cognitive, and physical development are discussed from a unique perspective that includes cultural, financial, and social justice considerations. In addition to providing practical tips for including animals in children's lives, Patty also presents information on how media influences human perception of animals and their behaviors. The passion that Patty has for animals and children is very clear when reading this text and should encourage all educators to consider how to include animals in their classrooms. This text is written with the concern for both children and animals and how animals can positively support child development. This may sound cliché, but I really mean it--this should be a must-read for any educator considering bringing an animal into the classroom as a pet. The section on planning and having meaningful interactions is especially crucial for early childhood educators to understand."
--Clarissa M. Uttley, PhD, Professor of Early Childhood Studies at Plymouth State University

"Even in the 21st century, the human brain remains powerfully attracted to animals. Patty Born Selly does a beautiful job showing us why that ancient, innate bond remains essential to the development of our children and our species. Selly's vision gives me joy and hope for the future. I hope all teachers and parents will take this book to heart."
--Meg Daley Olmert, author of Made For Each Other: The Biology of the Human-Animal Bond and Director of Research at Warrior Canine Connection, Inc.

"Patty Born Selly shows us how we can capitalize on children's innate connection with animals to create everyday opportunities to spur children's curiosity, engage children in learning that's meaningful, and connect children with other living creatures. This book is a powerful tool for any teacher who wants to bring more life into his or her teaching."
--Christy Merrick, Natural Start Coordinator, North American Association for Environmental Education

"Connecting Animals and Children in Early Childhood is an excellent resource. It provides the reader with so many ideas, guidance for the planning and the implementation, and questions to consider. As I read the book, I recalled an incident long ago where a child picked up a caterpillar and was holding it tightly in his hands. An observer said, 'Watch this. He's going to step on it.' Not so, he was looking for a rock to hide the caterpillar so it could be protected and become a butterfly. It's these unbelievable moments that reveal the special relationship between children and animals. We can all benefit from the ideas in this book that teach us the importance of providing children with meaningful animal encounters."
--Samuel B. Ross Jr., PhD, Founder and Managing Director, The Friends of Green Chimneys

About the Author

Patty Born Selly: Patty Born Selly is executive director of the National Center for STEM Elementary Education at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota. She also serves as adjunct faculty at Metropolitan State University in Minnesota, where she teaches classes on children and nature and environmental education. Patty has developed hundreds of preschool classes on nature, science, and green topics. She has also worked as a park naturalist and environmental education coordinator, a wildlife rehabilitator, zoo volunteer, and consultant for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Patty has been a preschool outreach educator for the Science Museum of Minnesota, where, in addition to teaching scores of preschool classes, she developed and delivered teacher training on inquiry-based science for early childhood and green and sustainability topics. In her work as an environmental educator, Patty has done extensive research on the relationships between children and animals and how those relationships help children develop. She has also worked in many non-formal education settings and taught many children's classes that have included such animals as snakes, mice, turtles, frogs, fish, skinks, salamanders, and even birds of prey.