Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through our links, at no cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more info.
You know what’s cuter than your energetic little kid? Your kid with a pet, especially when the pet is as tiny as they are. This is undoubtedly the cutest combination ever. What’s more? Research shows that kids and entire families benefit greatly from having a pet.
In today’s article, we are going to shed light on these benefits and a few pet keeping tips. So sit back and get ready to be thoroughly informed. And maybe, just maybe, we can convince you to get a pet.
In This Post:
Benefits of Getting a Pet
1. Teach Responsibility
One of the major reasons parents get their children pets is to teach them how to be responsible. Suffice to say, this is a very effective strategy. By letting your child feed and take care of a pet, you are teaching them to be responsible, consistent, and reliable in other life activities.
2. Teach Compassion
Another thing that taking care of a pet teaches children is to be compassionate. Understandably, taking care of a completely dependent being is a practical way to impart long-lasting lessons on empathy and compassion.
3. Sharpen Cognitive Skills
Interestingly, research shows that children that effectively communicate with their pets show signs of better cognitive development.
4. Promote a Healthy Stress-Free Life
If your kid has all the makings of a couch potato, you should definitely get them a pet, especially a dog. Not only will a dog always keep them on their feet, but it will also foster stress reduction.
While some studies show that petting a dog results in lower cortisol levels for both pet and owner, others even suggest that it reduces the chances of developing allergies. Ultimately pet-owning has amazing health benefits for the whole family.
5. Build Self-Esteem
By delegating some pet care tasks to your kid, you are building their belief in themselves. Regularly doing these tasks makes children feel helpful and important, farther building their self-image.
Pet Keeping Tips
If you have finally decided to get your first family pet, you may now be at a loss as to how to gently integrate them into your home. Well, we have some amazing pet keeping tips for you today. These include:
1. Assign the Kids Age-Appropriate Roles
When it comes to pet care, let your kids do what they can. For instance, a 3-year-old doesn’t have the strength to walk a dog. However, they can efficiently fill the pet’s water bowl as you watch on.
2. Lead by Example
One of the best ways to teach your kid pet care basics is by having them see you do them. Whether you are walking or grooming your pet, you should take your little one with you. We have one piece of advice to give you though; leave the deep grooming to the professionals.
Although it’s pretty safe to brush your pet’s coat and teach your kid the ropes, bathing is a whole other ball game. For this and other advanced pet care services, you should enlist the service of a mobile grooming salon. Such service providers come to you and groom your pets from the comfort of your home.
