What kind of future will be created when children and dogs grow up together?

Every day, children and dogs grow up together in the same space.

In the morning, a tiny hand caresses the dog's head, still a little sleepy.
Their backs as they walk side by side in the park.
Time spent dozing off together on the sofa.

These are just ordinary moments,
yet somehow they soften our hearts.

Watching them, have you ever felt,
"I'm sure this has a good influence"?

You sometimes hear that it's good for emotional development.

But where does that feeling come from?
Is it just a vague impression?

Or has research also shown something?

In fact, the relationship between children and pets
has been the subject of various studies, mainly overseas.

Here, I'd like to summarize some of them as simply as possible.

Time that may gently touch the foundation of the body

In recent years, research on the link between allergies and asthma has advanced.

A large-scale study conducted in Sweden reported that
children who lived with dogs during infancy
tended to have a lower risk of developing asthma in school age.

There are also studies suggesting that children raised in an environment with dogs from infancy
may have a lower incidence of allergic diseases.

These studies suggest that early childhood exposure to diverse microorganisms
may influence the maturation of the immune system.

Of course, the same results do not apply to all families.
Differences due to constitution and living environment are also considered significant.

Nevertheless, knowing that daily interactions may somehow be involved in the foundation of the body,
the usual scenery might look a little different.

An existence that nurtures a gentle heart

There is research on the mind, not just the body.

There is a review study that suggests children raised with animals
tend to have higher empathy.

When interacting with a being that doesn't speak,
children naturally try to perceive changes in expression and gestures.

"Are they happy now?"
"Are they a little tired?"

This accumulation of imagination
is suggested to lead to a way of looking at others.

Furthermore, some studies indicate that interaction with animals may be linked to interpersonal skills.

Additionally, some reports suggest that pet owners tend to have higher emotional stability.

For children, dogs are a presence that is simply there for them,
without judgment or conditions.

That sense of security
may be softening the small fluctuations of daily life.

Beyond the Research

The research introduced so far
indicates the "possibility of positive trends."

It's not a simple matter of saying that owning a dog will definitely promote development.

Nevertheless, knowing these perspectives
can sometimes change the meaning of everyday moments.

Even the sight of them walking, almost stumbling, in the park.
Even the time spent gently touching the dog's ear before bed.

These might not just be habits,
but moments that gently touch the foundations of their bodies and minds.

The days of children and dogs growing up together
pass by much faster than you might think.

That's why, even without doing anything special,
if we can just cherish those moments of walking side by side
a little more.

Even that
might be a sufficiently meaningful choice.

References

Association between Early Life Child Development and Family Dog Ownership. (Japan Environment and Children’s Study)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34281019/

Purewal, R. et al. (2017). Companion animals and child/adolescent development: a systematic review.
※International review including Japanese data
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28343792/

Koda, N. et al. (2019). Pet Ownership and Children’s Emotional Expression. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/5/758

Fall, T. et al. (2015). Early exposure to dogs and farm animals and the risk of childhood asthma.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25981139/

Hesselmar, B. et al. (2018). Does early exposure to animal dander reduce allergy risk?
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29287664/

Endenburg, N., & van Lith, H. (2011). The influence of animals on the development of children.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21705936/

Daly, B., & Morton, L. (2006). An investigation of human-animal interactions and empathy.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16859450/

McConnell, A. R. et al. (2011). Friends with benefits: On the positive consequences of pet ownership.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21443389/