Dr. Mark Swaim explains that comfort animals provide emotional support to persons who might be suffering from disability or illness. These animals can help reduce the symptoms or effects of a disability or a condition. 

How do comfort animals help?

Some comfort animals are trained to perform specific tasks to help persons with disability. They can be trained to remind people to take their medications during specific periods, help a person suffering from a panic attack, help a person suffering from distress, or check repetitive or harmful behaviors. Comfort animals are different from service animals since the latter are expected to accompany their owners at all times while the former stays in the living space of their owner.

Can comfort animals help children with homework?

Yes, Dr. Mark Swaim says, comfort animals can help kids when it comes to their homework. No, the animals are not going to be the ones to do the homework. Rather, they can help kids to get into the right mood for them to do their homework. 

Studies have shown that the presence of therapy animals and interaction with them can increase the production of dopamine in the body. This is the body’s natural antidepressant and is helpful in calming a person. So, the presence of a comfort animal means that children can become calm and ready to do their homework. Since the children are relaxed and calmer, they can spend enough time in doing their homework and they can answer most of the questions right.

How else can comfort animals help?

Dr. Mark Swaim expounds that comfort animals can also help persons who are suffering from mental disorders. Research has shown that pets have a positive effect on the mental health of their owners. They can also provide emotional support to those who are in need of it.

Comfort animals can help in many ways just as they come in various shapes and sizes. As for Dr. Swaim, he recommends that if ever your child is being too stubborn to do his homework, then perhaps playing with the dog for 10 minutes or so might get him in a more productive mood.