Premios Fundación Rafa Nadal
At the Rafa Nadal Foundation Centre in Madrid, we had the opportunity to enjoy a very special experience together with Fundación Canis Majoris, one of the winning organisations of the 3rd Rafa Nadal Foundation Awards, who kindly shared their educational and therapeutic methodology with us through a dog-assisted activity.
Over the course of four days, all groups of children and adolescents at the centre took part in carefully designed sessions, where the bond with the dogs became a powerful educational and emotional tool.
The activity began with a simple yet meaningful gesture: each child or young person asked the dog to give them a paw as a welcome. This first contact helped to build trust, excitement and an atmosphere of mutual respect from the very beginning.
Next, in very small groups of three to four participants, the children asked the dog to bring them a rebus. Hidden inside was a Christmas carol that they had to guess and sing together, encouraging teamwork, communication and emotional expression. For the youngest groups, the activity was adapted so that the dog brought Christmas decorations to decorate the tree, always maintaining a playful and participatory approach.
In the second part of the session, each participant asked the dog to bring them a special ornament with an adjective written on the back. The challenge was to give that ornament to a peer who best represented that adjective, promoting positive observation, recognition of others and self-esteem.
The activity ended with a moment of calm and affection: stroking the dog to say goodbye, closing the session with serenity and care.
The experience has been extremely enriching for everyone involved. The professionalism and warmth of the Fundación Canis Majoris team were outstanding, clearly demonstrating the value of working with animals in educational and therapeutic contexts.
Without a doubt, this collaboration has left us eager to continue learning together and to repeat new experiences that keep children and adolescents at the centre, supporting their personal and emotional development.