As children, we can face many negative situations and traumatic experiences, and if we don’t get the care that we need as youngsters, then it could be detrimental to our health as adults. That is why, as time goes on, we tend to hear more about children with ACEs (adverse childhood experiences) and the efforts that experts are suggesting to help kids learn resilience, get past their previous trauma, and grow up as healthy adults.
Animal therapy, however, has risen as an effective method to support children with ACEs. Proximity to horses, dogs, and other animals can do wonders for the mental and physical health of kids and help them to build resilience. So if you have a child who needs help, then animal-assisted interventions may be the answer.
Learning About Children With ACEs
As time goes on, many teachers find that their students are having trouble regulating their emotions. This may look like students frequently getting scared or upset in class. When they look to the root of the issue, this behavior is often tied to an adverse childhood experience. In general, an ACE is a negative experience that occurred before the age of 18 that affects them as an adult.
Examples of ACE include:
- Sexual abuse;
- Physical abuse;
- Emotional abuse;
- Alcohol abuse of an older member of the house;
- Domestic violence between parents;
- Divorce of the parents.
The effects of these traumatic experiences can cause issues as the kids grow older. Potential results of childhood trauma can include chronic disease, mental illnesses, drug use, and violence against others. This will happen because this toxic stress can damage the child’s still-developing brain. Once it takes hold, it can be years before the individual can start acting out as an adult.
One of the best ways to help kids to grow up with some normalcy is to learn to practice resilience and build mental toughness against those difficulties. In many cases, animal-assisted interventions can help because many animals tend to bring out the best in people. Also, being with an emotional support animal can help to reduce the cortisol levels in our brains, which helps to make us more resilient and less stressed. Let’s talk a bit more about how specific animals can help children with ACEs.
Dogs Are A Common Companion
When many people think about emotional or physical support animals, they typically first think about dogs. We often find dogs to be faithful companions that will be there for us and listen to our concerns and never get bored. This constant companionship is a great way to build your child’s sense of self-esteem. By knowing that they are loved no matter what, they can feel better as they wake up every morning and tackle the responsibilities of the day.
There are also helpful ways for children to use pups to cope with their stress. For instance, dogs require a lot of physical activity, and kids can be there to take them for walks and to play out in the yard. Kids with ACEs often have a lot of pent-up anxiety, and they can start to feel depressed. Exercise can help to reduce those feelings, so children should be encouraged to take on some of the responsibilities of caring for the dog. Plus, the routine of walking and feeding the dog will give your children purpose.
In addition to ensuring that the dog is fed and happy, children and their caretakers must make it a point to keep the dogs safe as they travel from place to place. If you bring the dog everywhere you go, then pet safety while traveling is key. For instance, ensure that your windows are locked and that you don’t let your dog stick their head out the window when you are driving, or it could be hit by passing debris.
Horse Riding Can Do Wonders
In many cases, therapeutic activities like mindfulness, meditation, and nature therapy can help us to deal with trauma. You can get all three of those benefits and more by working with and interacting with horses. There are many health benefits to being with horses. In addition to physical perks like strengthening your legs, back, and core, there are also many mental health benefits, including the ability to reduce stress. Many people find horses to be very calming, and when you enjoy being near them, you tend to experience an increase in endorphins in your body, which will make you happier.
Horses can often be a beacon of light for kids who are living in a dark world. A horse will be a faithful companion that will never betray you, and once your child forms a relationship with the animal, they can return time and time again when they need support. Plus, your children can set achievable goals when it comes to spending time with the horse, like deciding how far they want to ride this week and the new skills they want to learn. By setting goals, your kids can put their minds on other things other than their anxiety, and they can be happier overall.
The success rate associated with horses is why equine therapy is so popular in these applications. Riding and caring for horses helps kids to get out of their comfort zone, which will help them to build self-confidence. Also, kids can improve through cognitive therapy. Horses can easily sense danger and they often try to flee in times of panic. Your child can relate, and when they can focus on the animal’s apprehension instead of their own, they can learn how to deal with their own fears.
Horses can help kids heal just by being in their general proximity. The nonverbal exchange that riders have with their horses is profoundly powerful. Your child may start to feel more compassion and forgiveness just by being near their horse, and it can help them to get through the trauma of their past.
As you can see, there are many ways that animal-assisted interventions can support children with ACEs. Consider these tactics for a child in need, and you could help them thrive as they grow into adults.
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