Pets and children are two sources of joy and stress relief. Some parents wonder if the combination of these two is a wise idea. Concerns on safety and keeping the house in order are on top of their minds. These apprehensions are valid. There are ways to resolve these things at the bud, such as getting excellent puppy training. With a well-trained pet, life will be less chaotic and more fun.
The immense benefits of having children and pets together far outweigh its inconveniences. Are you considering the idea? Read on to find its advantages.
Pets Teach Life Values
Caring for pets is an avenue for a child to learn skills and values at a young age. Feeding a pet and taking it for a walk are small tasks you can give a child. You can teach them responsibility with the idea that another creature relies on them.
Through time, empathy can also develop. Children will learn to be more responsive to the needs of others. They will know how to consider the welfare of another aside from their own.
Pets Provide Companionship
Having a pet is having the assurance that you will not experience being alone. They provide hours of fun, and it can be in the form of active play or silence.
Pets also serve as sounding boards during a hard day for kids. They are non-judgmental creatures that are willing to listen and cuddle. It also says that a pet helps in big life changes such as having a new sibling or starting a day at school. Having a pet is giving a child a friend for keeps.
Pets Improve Physical Health
Some parents are apprehensive about having pets. They fear exposing their children to allergens. But studies show that children exposed to pets at an early age have stronger immune systems; they are less likely to succumb to allergies and common ailments such as colds. The key here is to maintain a level of cleanliness. Make sure that pets are always well-groomed.
Pets also encourage a more active lifestyle. Children nowadays tend to be sedentary and absorbed in gadgets. But, with pets around, they can think of activities where they can play with their pets. They can rediscover the joy of a nature walk or of spending time away from the screen.
Pets Encourage Children to Learn
Pets are great self-esteem boosters. Children with pets sometimes treat their pets as silent receivers. They can engage their pets in conversations, although these are one-sided talks. They learn how to express themselves well. Also, some children practice their reading skills in front of their pets. That is because they feel the non-judgment in this set-up.
Some older children become interested in some trivia and facts about their pets. Those give them extra knowledge apart from what they study in school.
Pets Connect the Whole Family
Welcoming a pet in a family is like adding a member to it. Children can expect more bonding moments with parents and siblings. That is even in a task as menial as bathing their pets. They can also work together with cleaning the cage or teaching their pets new tricks. These are simple moments that help members to spend time with one another.
Children will benefit from having a pet at home. There are many considerations, such as the costs, kind, and number of pets that a family can take in. But, when these things are all settled, children will enjoy and grow in many aspects through having a pet.
