With the recent passing of Jane Goodall, the world is reminded of the power of compassion, curiosity, and deep connection to other living beings. As a pioneering primatologist and conservationist, Goodall championed respect for animals, environmental stewardship, and empathy across species. Her work encourages us to extend kindness beyond humans and recognise that children, too, can develop resiliency through relationships — not just with people, but with the natural world.
In K–12 education, teaching compassion is not merely a moral ideal; it can be foundational to students’ social-emotional development, emotional regulation, and resilience in the face of adversity. The research in Transforming Trauma: Resilience and Healing Through Our Connections With Animals underscores this by exploring how relationships between children and animals can foster healing, growth, and emotional stability. Below are the key takeaways from that research and implications for how educators might bring compassion and connection into schools.
Key Takeaways:
- Relationships with Animals Offer Unique Emotional Support: Children often perceive animals as nonjudgmental companions. Because animals do not critique or criticise, children feel safer sharing their vulnerabilities with them. This unconditional presence allows children the emotional space to express fear, sadness, or confusion in less threatening ways.
- Animal Connections Help Build Resilience: Interacting with animals may provide comfort during stress and support recovery from trauma. These relationships encourage children to regulate emotions, develop coping strategies, and foster a sense of safety, all of which contribute to long-term resilience.
- Compassion Extends Beyond Human Relationships: Children who form meaningful bonds with animals often show increased empathy not only towards pets or wildlife, but also in their interactions with peers and adults. This widening circle of compassion strengthens social and emotional development.
- Interconnectedness Shapes Healing and Growth: Recognising the shared bond between humans and animals highlights how all forms of connection can be a source of healing. Teaching students this interconnected view encourages them to approach challenges with greater compassion, awareness, and resilience.
As Jane Goodall often reminded us, “Only if we understand, will we care. Only if we care, will we help. Only if we help, shall all be saved.” Her legacy challenges educators to nurture compassion not only as a value but as a daily practice in the classroom. The research on children’s connections with animals underscores that compassion can be taught, modelled, and strengthened — with profound benefits for resilience and wellbeing.
Building on these findings, schools may explore ways of integrating animal-assisted activities or compassion-focused approaches to create environments where students feel more supported and connected. Such efforts have the potential to foster holistic well-being, reduce stress, and strengthen classroom climate.
For a deeper exploration, see Chapter 6, Children and Animals: The Importance of Human-Other Animal Relationships in Fostering Resilience in Children by Sarah M. Bexell, Susan Clayton, and Gene Myers, in Transforming Trauma: Resilience and Healing Through Our Connections With Animals.
