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The Medfield Afterschool Program’s (MAP) Jump Start, Kindergarten and First Grade program recently adopted a guinea pig from the Medfield Animal Shelter. The children were very excited to meet the new pet and help give her a new name; after many great suggestions, the children voted, and her name is Marshmallow.
Marshmallow will be joining Butterscotch, another guinea pig the program adopted a few years ago. In adopting both pets, MAP received grants from Pets in the Classroom. Pets in the Classroom is an educational grant program that provides financial support to teachers to purchase and maintain small animals in the classroom. The program provides an opportunity for children to interact with pets—an experience that can help to shape their lives for years to come.
Butterscotch and Marshmallow are an important part of the program. They are welcoming ambassadors to the children and their families, and they quickly become great friends to all. The guinea pigs are also used as a teaching tool. In addition to learning about caring for the pets, the children learn that Butterscotch and Marshmallow eat many of the same fruits and vegetables that they have for lunch and snack - the guinea pigs help teach and inspire heathy eating. It encourages the children to eat their healthy foods first, and then they can share a carrot, apple or a piece of melon with their guinea pig friends.
MAP thanked Pets in the Classroom and the Medfield Animal Shelter for helping to provide this enriching experience. MAP is an established independent, non-profit program that has been providing quality care and enrichment to children for 29 years and counting. For more information about MAP and the programming it offers for children age 4 through 6th grade, visit www.medfieldafterschoolprogram.com.
