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Originally featured on the Medicine, Motherhood & Missions podcast with host Johanna Moses

What if one of the most powerful things we can do to raise kind, empathetic children is as simple as teaching them how to treat animals?

That's the heart of a recent conversation I had with Johanna Moses on her podcast, Medicine, Motherhood & Missions — and it's a topic close to my heart as both a former second-grade teacher and a lifelong animal lover.

More Than Just Pets

When children learn to care for animals — to be gentle, patient, and responsible — they're not just learning how to be good pet owners. They're developing the very qualities that shape how they treat people throughout their lives: compassion, respect, emotional intelligence, and kindness.

As I shared with Johanna, "The way children learn to care for animals often becomes the way they learn to care for people."

These early moments matter more than we realize. A child who learns to approach a nervous dog calmly, or who understands that a pet depends on them for food and comfort, is quietly building a foundation for healthy, caring relationships for the rest of their life.

How Storytelling Opens the Door

My books — Elephant Beach, Lola and Sophie's ABC Adventure, and Pet Safety with Lola & Sophie — were born from years spent in the classroom watching children light up when they saw themselves in a story.

Stories give children a safe space to explore big feelings. They help shy kids feel seen. They open conversations between parents and children about empathy, responsibility, and what it means to be a good friend — to animals and to people alike.

When a child reads about Lola and Sophie navigating the world with curiosity and kindness, they're not just enjoying a story. They're quietly absorbing a way of being in the world.

Practical Ways to Cultivate Compassion at Home

You don't need a pet to teach your child kindness toward animals. Here are a few simple ways to bring these lessons into everyday life:

• Visit a local animal shelter and talk about why animals need loving homes — and why adoption matters.
• Read together — books that feature animals as characters naturally invite conversations about empathy and care.
• Model gentle behavior around animals, whether it's a neighbor's dog or a bird at the feeder.
• Talk about feelings — ask your child how they think an animal might feel in different situations.
• Celebrate small acts of kindness — noticing and praising compassionate behavior reinforces it.

Raising a Generation That Leads with Kindness

Whether you're a parent, teacher, grandparent, librarian, or pediatric provider, we all have a role to play in shaping the next generation. The good news? It doesn't take grand gestures. It takes small, consistent moments of modeling and encouraging kindness — and those moments add up to a lifetime of character.

I'm so grateful to Johanna for creating a space for this conversation, and to every parent, educator, and caregiver who is intentionally raising children to lead with their hearts.

🎧 Listen to the full episode of Medicine, Motherhood & Missions on Apple Podcasts and follow Johanna at @medicine_motherhood_missions on Instagram.

📚 Explore my books at christine-devane.com and connect with me on Instagram at @stined13.