Will you help us provide our amazing preschoolers a “pet” of their own?
One teaching tool our young learners love is having a “pet” of their own at school. We want to provide each of our almost 1,400 preschoolers — children between the ages of 3-5 — a weighted stuffed kitten or puppy to use throughout the day. These specially designed stuffies provide deep pressure stimulation, giving children a gentle, calming sensation similar to a hug.
When children feel overwhelmed, anxious, or overstimulated, their pet gives them a safe, reassuring way to reset and re-engage. This is especially powerful for children in our TIP classrooms — smaller, intensive learning environments for children who need extra support before returning to their regular classroom.
Will you help us give 650 young learners a ‘pet’ of their own?
A gift of $750 supports 10 children, providing each with their own pet and supporting curriculum supplies for teachers.
Contact Ben Rider at BRider@mvcdc.org or (937) 226-5664, ext 4215 to discuss giving opportunities.
Your support will help children:
Feel safe and nurtured in the classroom
Support Emotional intelligence and development
Develop empathy and responsibility
Stay engaged and ready to learn
More than a toy
Research shows this innovative program helps regulate the nervous system, stay calm, and build confidence! Along the way, children learn responsibility by helping care for their pet, reinforcing important life skills in a developmentally appropriate way. Their pet stays with them all year and is theirs to keep at the end of the school year, reminding them of their fun and engaging school experience.
At MVCDC, we take a whole child approach to kindergarten readiness, nurturing not just what children know, but who they're becoming. That means helping them manage big emotions, stay focused, and build friendships alongside the academic skills they'll need to succeed in the classroom and in life. Much of how we do this is through play.