Get out more with the dog....and the tarantula....and the tree frog

You see it all the time: animals can really help to bring people together.  I know that if I am out walking the dogs, people will talk firstly to the dogs (Ben and Charlie. That's them above!) and then to me. Hey, I can take it! And it's great to get to chat with people I might otherwise never get to meet.  Sometimes real friendships can develop out of repeated encounters like these.

 In a more focused and directed way, animals can really help companies to reach people of all ages too.  Of course, all this is a bit more formal than a chat, but the principle is the same. 

 As an animal handling experience and lifelong learning company, ZooLab works across the UK with schools to deliver curriculum-driven workshops that get children to understand everything from scientific to social ideas – so we are really proud to be working now with Specsavers to deliver sensory workshops where children get to understand the science behind all sensory experiences.  It's a great combination: our expert rangers bring their first-rate presentational skills to get children to explore ideas and senses by coming face to face with animals that range from giant African snails to corn snakes and from tarantulas to bearded dragons  – and SpecsSavers get a chance to engage with schools through ZooLab while getting on with their business.

 The most important group of people in all of this are of course the children themselves.  We know that active learning, where children get to do things and be part of an educational experience, is how children learn most effectively. As Benjamin Franklin observed: 'Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn' – we never forget that.

To find out more about how children learn about senses click here visit our brand new website.