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Advising the aliens : investigating young children's learning of dog safety message

journal contribution
posted on 2017-12-06, 00:00 authored by S Nichols, Kirrilly Thompson, Sarah BlundenSarah Blunden
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a dog safety program on the protective behaviour knowledge of children in the first year of school. This mixed methods study utilised pre- and post-testing (N = 121), observation of six sessions and individual interviews with a sub-group of children (N = 49). These interviews utilised a co-constructed narrative strategy where children were invited to assist an imaginary alien to safely navigate hypothetical safety scenarios. All schools improved their knowledge of safe dog interactions, with an overall increase in knowledge of 18%. Most children were able to apply abstract knowledge to hypothetical scenarios involving accompanied and unaccompanied dogs. Of concern, 24% of children still believed that dogs liked being patted on their heads and 16% of children had not overcome their intuitive reaction to run from a threatening dog. Whilst the program has made significant improvements to children’s knowledge of safe dog-interactions, more gains can be made. We identify important opportunities for improving dog safety programs in general. We comment on the need to consider the impact of different models of child–dog relations in terms of either similitude or difference.

History

Volume

37

Issue

3

Start Page

115

End Page

123

Number of Pages

9

eISSN

2049-7776

ISSN

1035-0772

Location

United Kingdom

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Language

en-aus

Peer Reviewed

  • Yes

Open Access

  • No

External Author Affiliations

University of South Australia;

Era Eligible

  • Yes

Journal

Children Australia.