If you have a child, you’ll start hearing pleas from a very young age for a pet. Whether you choose to purchase a goldfish or go down to the shelter to find a furry friend, your family’s pet provides more than just a cute face and friendship. There are many lessons that a child can learn from helping take care of a pet.
Learning Responsibility
One of the best lessons that children can learn from taking care of pets is responsibility. As you start the family discussion about whether or not to get a pet, you’ll want to go over all of the chores that will need to be done to help take care of it. Divvy out these chores in advance so that your children know their expectations. Chores can include cleaning out a cat’s litter box or small animal cages, providing the pet with food and clean water, and taking the dog for walks. Caring for a small animal and taking on this new level of responsibility can be a great lesson for children.
Learning Commitment
From first stocking up on pet essentials at shops like Dogscorner.co.uk to walking the dog even when it’s freezing outside, your child will learn that caring for a pet is a long-term commitment. They can’t get out of the responsibility after the novelty wears off, and will learn that some worthwhile endeavours in life require time and effort. Children will learn what it means to be reliable, because they have a living creature that’s depending on them for food, water, and play.
Learning New Methods of Communication
Interacting with a non-verbal creature helps children pick up on emotional cues. They can learn new ways to communicate by becoming attuned to the indications that a pet gives to show its feelings. This is carried over into human interaction, making children more conscious of body language and emotions. Many children are interested in how their pet is feeling, becoming more empathetic in their daily lives.
Learning Unconditional Love
Perhaps the most important lesson that a child can learn from taking care of a pet has nothing to do with purchasing dog collars at dogscorner.co.uk and accessories or feeding it every day. They can see that the pet loves them no matter what, which can be a huge confidence boost during formative years. Even when a child has a bad day at school, they can come home and see that their dog loves them for who they are without any judgment. Children may know that they are loved by their parents, but a dog’s love carries no expectations.
These are just a few of the ways that having a pet can change your child’s life. They provide companionship, love, and a reason to take on new responsibility. The lessons learned can be well worth the effort.
Image Credit:
Tina Phillips – FreeDigitalPhotos.Net