“I want a puppy!”
You may have heard those words, and you may wonder if getting a pet for your child is the right thing to do. After all, a pet is a big responsibility. If you buy a toy and your child ends up not playing with it, you can always return it, or count your losses. However, if you buy a puppy, and your child is uninterested, that’s a whole different story.
Indeed, you should not get a dog or cat out of impulse. If your child watched a cute movie with a dog and now wants a dog, this may not be enough of a reason to get one. However, if your child has been interested in getting a pet for a long time, and is old enough to take care of one, there are many benefits to having a pet, such as:
It’s Good for Everyone’s Health
If you want your child to be healthy, you may have looked into the latest parenting hacks to get them to eat their vegetables or encourage them to live a healthier lifestyle. Well, one way you can keep your child healthy is through a pet.
This is because pets come with many health benefits, including:
- Lowered stress, depression, and anxiety. When you or a child is feeling down or worked up, a purring cat or happy dog can perk you right up.
- Children who are exposed to a dog or cat at a young age will have less of a chance of allergies, asthma, or any other issues that involve a pet.
- Children with pets go outside more, particularly if the pet is outdoors.
- Overall, pet owners seem to have fewer visits to the doctor than people who don’t own pets.
It’s a Big Responsibility
That’s the common reason for discouraging a child from getting a pet, but it’s also a good reason to get one, too. Teaching a child how to feed, play with, and walk a pet every day can be quite beneficial for a child.
Depending on how responsible they are, you may want to give them a pet that requires maintenance. For instance, a cat will be less work than a big dog. With that said, you still need to give the cat plenty of cuddles and food. The right dog food is also important to give to your pet for the sake of their health and to get as many years out of them as possible.
Pets Help Teach a Child to Read
If your child is getting to that age where they are learning how to read, a pet can help. You may wonder how a pet can help with that. Well, a child usually reads aloud, but they may not want to as much because they feel embarrassed if they read to an adult or a peer. Children are going to make flubs while reading, and when a dog or cat hears them, they aren’t going to jump down their throat for messing up.
It’s Good for a Child’s Confidence
When a child has a pet, they may have improved self-esteem and social skills. Talking to a pet, and having something they can talk about to their peers, is one such reason. Another reason is that children with pets tend to be more active. Of course, some children still have poor self-esteem, and in this case, speaking to a therapist or a local counselor may be your answer.
Better Impulse Control
Interestingly enough, children who have pets tend to have better impulse control. We all know a child who is impulsive, and for some kids, this behavior may carry on into adulthood. A pet allows for better impulse control all around.
It Teaches The Importance of a Second Chance
When you get a pet, the advice you may receive is to adopt, not shop. Adopting a pet gives a homeless pet a forever home and gives them another chance, especially if they were a pet that was abandoned by its previous owner. This life lesson is one that your kids can learn, and it can teach them how to be a better person to all their peers.
While it does require some mulling over, there are many reasons why getting a pet for your child may be a smart move.
Article Contributed by Marie Miguel
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
Leave a Reply