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 The fear and anxiety can cause significant problems in areas of their life, such as social interactions, school, and work.” Anxiety is a large problem in children and teens. The CDC says that 7.1% of children ages 3-17 have been diagnosed with anxiety in the United States\ Approximately 4.4 million children! These Numbers will most likely rise given the stress and trauma of the current pandemic. As someone who has personally been diagnosed with anxiety and knows a fair amount of people who suffer from this condition as well, this is an important problem to tackle. One solution that can help. A therapy dog.
Therapy dogs have been used in a lot of different places, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and schools. Some of the many benefits in school settings include increased attendance, social skills, improved reading abilities, and more confidence, as well as bonding with a therapy dog or dogs. Children with anxiety can look forward to seeing the dog, helping them have more motivation to attend school. They can also feel more relaxed when around the dog or petting them, and can be more comfortable around other people when the dog is there. Dogs can also help relieve stress after a stressful exam. Many colleges bring in therapy dogs during finals week, as a healthy and productive outlet for student stress. Overall, therapy dogs are a wonderful tool to help relieve stress and anxiety, and I think more schools and other places where children frequently visit should consider bringing in therapy dogs. Given the stress of the current pandemic, having therapy dogs in schools as children readjust to school is an important tool. Sources
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