Learning Through Loving: What Our Guinea Pig Teaches Us About Empathy

This week at Nature’s Lab, we celebrated International Guinea Pig Day, and our gentle classroom companion, Ashes, took center stage. Ashes spent the day roaming the school, basking in soft hands, calm voices, and heartfelt joy. Children fed him, held him, and simply sat near him. More than adorable; it was powerful. In these moments, we saw just how much the children have learned, not through structured lessons, but through living alongside a beloved animal.

Ashes isn’t just a pet. He’s a partner in our learning journey.

Bell pepper cake?

Over time, the children have come to understand:

🥕 What Ashes eats and what keeps him healthy

👐 How to use gentle hands and quiet voices to help him feel safe

💖 How to notice when he’s feeling overwhelmed and give him space

🧠 How to think about someone else’s needs, and act with kindness

🤝 How do these same skills help us be better friends to one another

These lessons aren’t abstract. They are embodied, lived, and felt every day. When children pause their excitement to make sure Ashes feels safe, they are learning self-regulation. When they feed him thoughtfully, they are practicing caregiving. When they notice his body language, they are developing attunement and empathy.

And perhaps most importantly, they are discovering that relationships are reciprocal: we care for Ashes, and in return, he teaches us how to be more caring.

During our celebration, a child asked if the bright yellow bell pepper was Ashes' birthday cake.

Another child asked a deeper question: why did Ashes' brother, Snickerdoodle, pass away before him?

That gentle question opened up an age-appropriate conversation about death and dying, how sometimes animals get sick or grow old, and how we can remember them with love. We talked about the special memories we have of Snickerdoodle and how it took time for Ashes to adjust after losing him. We also shared how Ashes now spends his days with our two bunnies and has grown comfortable in their company, forming new connections while still holding space for the one he lost.

These are the kinds of moments that remind us of the emotional attunement young children can possess and how crucial it is to respond to their questions with honesty, warmth, and openness.

We also saw growth in another beautiful way. One of our new students, who has not yet felt comfortable being near our pets, found her courage during this special celebration. She chose to pet Ashes for the first time and quietly shared, "His ears are very soft." It was a small moment with big meaning, a step toward confidence in a safe space, and a doorway to new opportunities and experiences.

For families at home, these same lessons can be woven into everyday life, whether or not you have a pet. Here are a few gentle, simple ways to model and practice empathy with young children:

• Water a plant together: "Let’s give our plant a drink, it gets thirsty like we do."

• Practice quiet observation: "Let’s listen to the sounds outside for one minute. What do you hear?"

• Tune in to feelings: "How do you think your stuffed animal is feeling right now? What could we do to help?"

• Talk about giving space: "Sometimes our bodies or hearts need a break, just like Ashes does."

These moments don’t require extra time or special equipment. They happen in the rhythm of real life. And they build the same foundation of empathy, gentleness, and relational awareness.

As always, we remind families: you know your children best. If your mornings are rushed or your evenings are full, that’s okay. Even one small moment of shared observation or caring attention can make a difference.

Ashes reminds us that real growth happens in real life, through genuine relationships. That’s what makes Nature’s Lab feel like home.

Conversation prompt for families:

"Can you think of a time when you helped someone (or something) feel better? What did you notice? What did you do?"

And if you're looking for a playful, hands-on way to continue these lessons at home, we love the Melissa & Doug Examine and Treat Pet Vet Play Set (Amazon Affiliate Link). This 24-piece pretend play kit lets children step into the role of a gentle caregiver, feeding, examining, and caring for their own plush pet. It’s a fun, developmentally supportive way to nurture empathy, observation, and responsibility, just like we do with Ashes at school.

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Affiliate link in this post:

Melissa & Doug Examine and Treat Pet Vet Play Set https://amzn.to/4m1ikX1