The relationship between dog ownership, dog play, family dog walking, and pre-schooler social-emotional development: findings from the PLAYCE observational study.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the possible physical activity and social-emotional developmental benefits of family dog ownership for pre-schoolers, and that these benefits may present in early childhood. IMPACT: Young children from dog-owning families had lower peer problems and conduct problems, and higher prosocial behaviors than children from non-dog-owning families.Children of dog-owning families who walked or played with their dog more often also had better prosocial behaviors.Positive social-emotional development was associated with dog ownership, family dog walking, and dog play in young children.Highlights that the social-emotional benefits of owning a dog may begin early in childhood.Due to the high level of pet ownership in households with children, these findings suggest having a dog and interacting with it through play and walking may be important mechanisms for facilitating young children's social-emotional development. PMID: 32624570 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Pediatric Research - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Pediatr Res Source Type: research