It’s only a matter of time before your children are old enough to start asking for a pet. This is a common situation for families around the nation. While it’s easy to decide against a pet, having a furry friend in the household can be greatly beneficial to children. From a very young age, growing up with a cat or dog can help teach a variety of crucial life lessons. One of the first things a puppy, kitten, dog or cat can teach your child is responsibility.
Dogs need to be walked, fed, groomed and of course have constant interaction. Cats, which are less intensive, still need to be cleaned up after, fed and brushed. These are great tasks to add to your children’s chores and increase what they are responsible for in the home. Older children are capable of walking smaller dogs, while even young children can help by feeding the cat each day. Taking responsibility for a part of the animals life can help children take accountability and feel a sense of accomplishment.
In addition to being responsible, children must also learn to be kind and caring towards your family’s new four-legged fellow. Puppies and kitten especially need to be carefully cared for and protected from roughhousing. This is a great opportunity to teach children of all ages how to care for an animal and they right way to treat the family pet. Use your interactions with the pet as an example of how your children should also pick it up, put it down, pet it and interact with it on a daily basis.
From children, having a pet around the house can also boost their self-esteem. Unlike peers that can be judgmental or harsh, animals provide a loyal companion. Having a cat or dog to love gives children a furry friend that loves them back unconditionally. This can be especially beneficial for children that are shy, struggle with social interaction or are the only child living in the household. Puppies or kittens raised with children can end up becoming a life-long companion.
Taking these benefits into consideration can help you see the many advantages of bringing a pet into your home. Playing with a puppy or kitten also lowers stress on top of all the valuable lessons having a pet can teach your children. Learning doesn’t just happen in the classroom. Responsibility, kindness and confidence are all lessons that can be learned through opening up your home and your family to a loving dog or cat.