At Hikari^®, we’ve spent almost 140 years exploring the natural habitats of fish and studying their nutritional needs. With a dedication to help hobbyists to love their aquatic pets as much as their pets love them and deliver the highest quality when it comes to meeting their nutritional needs, we are invested in all things aquatic throughout the world.

In fact, one program we heavily support is Pets in the Classroom.  This educational grant based program provides financial support for teachers across the United States and Canada to purchase and maintain pets in the classroom. Their main goal is to provide young students with an opportunity to interact with nature up close and personal, thus igniting a lifelong passion for years to come.

We love to witness tropical fish, cichlids, reptiles, amphibians, and marine life making their way into more than 40% of the classrooms that get a pet. By providing so many new ways for young people to interact and learn, we at Hikari Sales USA, Inc. feel this opportunity enables a wonderful way to shape generations to come and to help them be compassionate toward aquatic life.

Just a few ways that pets can enrich a classroom experience include:

Classroom Pets Teach Responsibility

Learning how to properly care for another creature is a huge life lesson. From developing and executing an appropriate feeding and tank cleaning schedule to planning socialization time, pets in the classroom can develop the rewarding feeling these responsibilities bring about. With the skills they learn for taking care of a living and breathing animal, they learn so much more about respect for nature and their sensitivity.

Classroom Pets Build Nurturing Relationships

Another great benefit of having pets in a classroom is that kids can develop strong bonds with non-responsive animals such as fish or turtles. From reading aloud to just feeling less alone, spending time with non-humans is a great way to nurture relationship building and social interaction skills. Just by simply observing their new classroom pets, kids can see, touch or feel these animals, learning more and more about the world around them.

Classroom Pets showcase Educational Opportunities

One of our favorite reasons to have a pet in the classroom is that it can provide the teacher with tons of educational material. Studies have shown that having a pet in the classroom have not only increased attendance, discipline and self-esteem, but have also enhanced student’s engagement levels, compassion and empathy. Helping take care of classroom pets can strengthen a child’s social skills, improve their confidence and develop strong human animal bonds.

From health to habitat, natural behavior patterns to larger life lessons, pets make a great segue to topics worth exploring and Hikari^® is proud to offer our support to such a fantastic cause. Learn more about the Pets in the Classroom by visiting their website and reading about how your donation can provide learning and skill building opportunities for the future generations. If you are an educator and are interested in  applying to the Pets in the Classroom program, click here to see if you qualify.