o:35411 The Importance of Pets in Owercoming Future Preschool Teachers Fears of Animals in Order to Increase the Quality of Education Važnost kućnih ljubimaca u svladavanju straha od životinja budućih odgojitelja s ciljem povećanja kvalitete obrazovanja en Abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between the expressed intensity of fear of animals among future preschool teachers with owning pet animals in childhood or in adulthood. The survey included 135 respondents, future preschool teachers, from two countries, Serbia and Slovenia. A questionnaire and an assessment scale were used as research instruments. According to the results, of all the animals in the offered sample, the respondents were most afraid of the snake, crocodile, wolf and lion. There was no statistically significant difference between the estimates of the respondents from Serbia and Slovenia in terms of showing greater fear towards the mentioned animal species. Owning a pet in childhood, or in adulthood, was not statistically significantly related to the intensity of the overall fear, neither certain animal species fear expressed. Apart from parents, preschool teachers represent an important model who can influence the relationships and experience that children build and adopt towards animals. That is why it is very important that future preschool teachers show calmness, consistency and proper treatment of animals, even if they feel fear or discomfort towards them. Key words: attitude towards animals; behavioural patterns; model learning; natural sciences; pedagogical interventions. 1552099 10.15516/cje.v26i2.5109 1552101 1848-5189 2024-12-30T11:39:14.983Z 44 yes 46 Gordana Miščević Fakultet za obrazovanje učitelja i vaspitača Univerzitet u Beogradu 0000-0002-7668-7596 application/pdf 200234 https://phaidrabg.bg.ac.rs/o:35411 no yes 1 70 92000001 11A42 Croatian Journal of Education 26 2 423 444 Zagreb: Učiteljski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu 2023 https://cje2.ufzg.hr/ojs/index.php/CJOE/article/view/5109