title: The influence of animals on the development of children.
abstract: There is a widespread belief that interaction with an animal is beneficial for the development of children, and several studies (most with methodological shortcomings) have investigated the influence of (companion) animals on the social-emotional and cognitive development of children. In this article, the 1984 model of Professor Jay Belsky has been used to describe which variables influence the development of children and how the companion animal-child interaction influences these variables. The value of the AAA/AAT (Animal Assisted Activities/Animal Assisted Therapy) programmes in children with a wide variety of clinical and social problems, such as behaviour problems and autistic spectrum symptoms, is discussed. The findings suggest that (companion) animals positively influence children's development and have a valuable role in therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animals in Science and Society, Division of Human-Animal Relationship and Animal Behaviour Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands. Electronic address: n.endenburg@uu.nl.
authors.forename: Nienke
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Endenburg
authors.affiliation: Department of Animals in Sciences and Society, Division of Animal Welfare & Laboratory Animals Science Program Emotion and Cognition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands; Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hein A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: van Lith
mesh_terms: D056447:Animal Assisted Therapy; D000818:Animals; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002657:Child Development; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001841:Human-Animal Bond; D006801:Humans