In the latest episode of The Pets Mag Podcast, Marie Carter-Robb speaks to renowned US psychologist and author DR DALE ATKINS about what children can gain when they step away from screens and reconnect with animals and the natural world.

Her new children’s book, Dear Deer, grew out of a remarkable real-life encounter with a trapped fawn. Dale talks about the experience that inspired the story, the importance of unstructured time in nature, what animals can teach children about patience, empathy and connection, and why she believes we are losing something important when childhood becomes dominated by screens.

A longtime advocate for the human-animal bond, Dale also reflects on her work with therapy dog Samson and the extraordinary connections she witnessed between animals and people.

“Nature is the greatest teacher and the greatest healer.”