Caring for a new pet could help develop the social skills of children with autism

Researchers from the Hospital Research Centre of Brest in France compared children with autism whose families introduced a pet at age five with those families who had no pets, and families where children grew up with or without a pet.

The findings revealed that children whose families introduced a pet into the household after their fifth birthday, were more likely to share and offer comfort to their parents or other children when they were sad or hurt.

However, there was no significant change in children who grew up with a family pet since birth. Few parents reported their child as interacting with their pets or caring and playing with them.

With thanks to www.nurseryworld.co.uk
 
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