Are Your Kids Ready for a Pet? Are You?

Becoming a pet owner can be a delightful and life-changing experience for families. It comes with laughter, frustration, education, heartbreak, and lots and lots of love. “There’s an increasing wealth of research proving that pet ownership has considerable educational and therapeutic benefits for children. Studies demonstrate children who interact with animals have higher levels of self-esteem, have greater empathy and better social skills.” Pet Health CouncilNo matter what kind of pet your family decides on, the benefits, although different in details, are similar (as are the challenges!).

Child Development

There have been many studies done on the influence of pet ownership on children’s development, and it all points toward positive gains in social/emotional growth. Pets can be a child’s ally, best friend, playmate, and first experience at caring for others outside of themselves. They are, essentially, a member of the family, and in this way become an integral part of the experience of growing up.

Education

Learning all you can about the pet you decide to get is a great way of incorporating education into pet ownership for your children. There are books about every pet you could imagine caring for, and kids (non-readers can look at the pictures) love to flip through the pages to learn more details about feeding, exercise and habitats of their particular pet. The more knowledgeable they are, the more confident they are in their pet care.Pets can even encourage decreased stress with school work! “In one study, children were asked to read in front of a peer, an adult, and a dog. Researchers monitored their stress levels, and found that kids were most relaxed around the animal, not the humans.” Parents.com

Communication

Just as stuffed animals or imaginary friends bring feelings of comfort, familiarity and security, pets can provide a sense of camaraderie for children. They keep secrets and are supportive, non-judgmental confidants after fights with friends, life’s disappointments, or just plain feeling blue.Pets can also provide a kind of ‘rehearsal session’ for children so that they can practice social skills that they will use in public. Especially for children who have more challenges in social interaction than others, pet ownership can be significantly beneficial. One study “found that autistic children with pets of almost any kind were more likely to engage in social behaviors such as introducing themselves, asking for information, or responding to other people’s questions.” Pets Matter

Empathy

Just as growing a garden can teach little ones about connecting with nature, pet ownership is the perfect training ground for building empathy and compassion for other living beings.When kids have someone looking to them and depending on them for safety, clean water, exercise, companionship, and love, it changes a child's perception of their place in our world. They learn that tending to others is a choice of character, and they flex those ‘kindness muscles,’ watching their pets grow and stay healthy as they take care of them.

Challenges

In a typical scenario, children might promise the world when it comes to sharing responsibility in caring for a pet before they get one, and then after the novelty wears off, parents and caregivers find themselves unhappily burdened with the follow-through.While this presents a challenge, this is a great opportunity to strive for consistency when it comes to teaching children to keep their word. One possible option is to write out a ‘pet promise chart’ to hang up (using pictures for those non-readers in the family) that serves as a contract of sorts between the pet (not the parents) and the children. This worked wonders in my household when my children were little, helping them to remember that our pets were counting on them to keep their promise. It changed pet care from a chore to a commitment.One of the biggest concerns about pet ownership is the inevitable death of the pet. As difficult as it is facing this sadness with children, it has lifelong value if approached with compassion, understanding and patience. Children learn how to work through grief as they process complex emotions, and they learn as they watch you work through your grief, too. The ability to cope with death and loss in a safe and secure environment, where there is support and love, builds resilience within children. Resiliency provides children with a wealth of tools in dealing with obstacles and difficulties throughout a lifetime.

A Final Note

As a final note, remember to discuss your family’s choice with your wonderful My Girl Friday nanny, especially if pet care was not negotiated in the initial contract. The added responsibility of pet care will fall on them as well, so make sure to keep the lines of communication open when moving forward. Be ready to discuss a slight bump in pay for any added work. Your nanny will appreciate it!By: Leanne Powell 2016