A+ EFFORT
For the students and staff at Slaybaugh Primary School in Egg Harbor Township, classroom pet Cookie Dough has star status.
Lisa Milstead, a preschool teacher at Slaybaugh, is Cookie Dough’s proud guardian. Now in her 26th year in education, Milstead adopted Cookie Dough seven years ago from a rabbit rescue as a pet for her daughter. Since 2024, she’s been bringing Cookie Dough into her classroom to help her students with a variety of social-emotional and academic benefits.
“I had the idea to bring Cookie Dough into the classroom because I thought the students would benefit from a classroom pet,” Milstead recalls. “The curriculum encourages it, so with the approval of administration and permission from all of the parents, Cookie Dough made his debut.”
Cookie Dough, and the students, quickly took to the arrangement.
“The students love to brush him and read to him,” Milstead says. “Cookie Dough has the run of the classroom, and the students are very gentle with him.”
Cookie Dough is not always gentle with the classroom, however. Countless books and papers bear his tell-tale nibbles, and he is a menace to electrical cords. During nap time, he has to be restrained from jumping on the cots.
Research shows that classroom pets benefit students in a variety of ways, especially in preschool.
Having a classroom pet can help build empathy and compassion, reduce anxiety and stress, build responsibility and help improve social skills.
In addition, students’ curiosity about pets can lead to discussions on a number of topics. Measuring Cookie Dough helps teach about math. Feeding him helps students understand different habitats and life cycles. Reading and writing about rabbits leads to improved language arts.
In addition, studies indicate that classroom pets can increase student engagement and motivation and improve attendance.
For Milstead and the students and staff at Slaybaugh School, Cookie Dough is a valuable part of the school day, and Cookie Dough relishes his role.
“Cookie Dough loves being in the classroom. He hates coming home on Fridays. He just loves the attention!”