Investigation of the emotions and behaviors of pre-school children and their parents against animals

There is an ongoing relationship between humans and other living and non-living elements of natural life for centuries. Animals are the most important living beings with whom humans interact. It is stated that the emotional bonds that children form with animals may have various effects on the behaviors they will display in their future lives. Studies show that children who grow up far from animal love have a harder time communicating with their environment, have less empathy, have less sense of responsibility and more intense feelings of jealousy. Children's feelings and behaviors towards animals can be important in relationships with animals. The people with whom children interact and the close environment of the child are effective in shaping the emotions and behaviors of children. For this reason, in this study, it was aimed to examine the attachment of mothers with children in the preschool period to animals and their attitudes towards animals and their children's feelings and behaviors towards animals. Descriptive and relational screening models were used in the study. It was examined whether the children's feelings and behaviors towards animals differed according to the general condition and various variables (gender, age, etc.). The study also investigated whether mothers' attachment to animals and their attitudes towards animals predict children's feelings and behaviors towards animals. The study group of the research consists of 131 mothers and their pre-school education children (131 children) in the center and villages of Isparta, who have had and still have at least one pet. In the research, "Personal Information Form", "Scale of Attitude Towards Animal Intervention", " The Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale " and "Emotion and Behavior Form Towards Animals" were used as data collection tools. Non-parametric statistics were used in the study because the data did not show normal distribution. According to the findings of the study, the scores of girls' behavior towards animals are significantly higher than boys. On the other hand, children who have had animals in their families for many years have a significantly higher feeling towards animals. Children's feelings and behaviors towards animals; It does not differ according to age, number of siblings and number of children. In addition, it was observed that there was a significant positive relationship between mothers' attachment to and attitudes towards animals and their children's emotions and behaviors towards animals. Key Words: Attachment, Attachment to Pets, Child and Pet Relationship, Pet.