Should Your Child Have a Pet?

There comes a time when your kids will inevitably bring home a "pet". It may be a lizard, frog, spider or even a stray dog or cat that has followed them home. How would you feel about allowing your kids to keep the animal as their pet? Is it an animal that you could tolerate having in the house?

We would allow this and even encourage it providing the animal does not belong to another family and appears to be docile and you can take care of it financially. A child's acceptance of a pet indicates that the child may be longing for a companion that he can have constantly at his side. At the beginning your kids may not realize the extent of responsibility that is being placed on their shoulders. All they will see is a living "toy", something they can play with and see growing up in front of them. This is a new experience to them and we should encourage it. It helps them to understand the beauty of life. Show your kids that their pets are living animals just like us, and if we take pets into our care, we must take care of them.We could say that having a pet is an essential part of growing up. Kids often will love having a pet as a close companion and can really love their pets. Pets can bring about a calmness and peace to our kids as they nurture them.

In choosing to keep an animal as a pet we need to take into consideration whether our kids will enjoy this animal for a few years. If they will become easily bored with a pet then we would need to rethink it. Watch how your kids interact with your friend's pets. Take them to pet stores and show them the variety of animals that are available. Take a good look at the animals available and check out the care needed for each of the animals your kids are interested in. Find the right pet for your kids and your family. Small children may not be capable of handling and caring for large animals. Pick a pet that will fit into your lifestyle and environment.

Remember the time commitment that some pets will take. Some animals will need a lot of input from their little human companions if they are to be the only pet. Some animals such as guinea pigs and rats like to have another of their own kind as company.

The benefits of having the correct pet for your kids are huge. Your kids will learn from you how to nurture and care for a living thing. You will be able to teach them about hygiene and about feeding your pet. Your kids will learn from you how to be responsible for their pets needs. A pet's death will also help your children to deal with losses as they go through life.

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Pets And Children: A Lifelong Friendship

Is your voice beginning to sound like a broken record? Are you always nagging your kids to do their homework? Are you having trouble motivating your child to stop watching TV or playing video games and to play outside instead? Then consider making a pet part of your family.
Many people are aware of the health benefits that come from having a pet, including lowering high blood pressure, preventing heart disease and combating depression. However, what parents may not realize is that adding Spot, Polly or Mr. Whiskers to the family can be advantageous to the other bundles of joy "scampering" around your house-your kids!
While little children are too young to worry about preventing stress or lowering health care costs, there are numerous benefits they can experience from having a family pet.
Pets, whether a dog, cat, bird, hamster, reptile or fish, help children gain a sense of independence that can set them on the path to becoming mature, responsible adults.

-Pets Teach Kids To Be Responsible

Children can learn the importance of responsibility at an early age by acting as a caretaker for a pet. Fish are a terrific first pet because children can play a large role in caring for them. However, other pets that require more attention, like a cat or dog, can present an ideal opportunity for parent and child to bond while caring for the pet together. Showing children what it means to be responsible for another creature's survival can result in teaching important life lessons such as discipline, patience, kindness and attentiveness.

-Pets Can Help Kids Develop Discipline

Walking the dog, feeding the guinea pig and talking to the parrot can serve as fun study breaks for kids, and a replacement for television programs and video games. These pet-related activities help children remain focused on the task at hand, and are less likely to become distractions that will prevent homework and chores from being completed.

-Pets Prepare Kids For Life Situations

Bringing a pet home and into the family can be an effective way to help prepare children for real life scenarios. For example, pets can ease the transition of suddenly having to share mom and dad's attention with a new brother or sister by demonstrating how much fun new playmates can be, as well as what is involved in caring for another. Pets can also help kids learn to deal with medical issues and illnesses as they are exposed to routine veterinarian check-ups with their pet, and the treatments for various ailments.

Source : http://www.petloveshack.com/kids.html

Meaning of Pet Human Relationships

Now, more than ever before the relationship between a human being and his or her pet is an important one.

Dogs and Cats are comforting in times of sorrow and wonderful to have in the joyful times of your life as well. Think of that bouncing pooch so happy to greet you after a tough day at work, or the kitty you cuddle up with relaxing while you listen to your favorite show on TV.

Animals are so popular when visiting nursing homes that it almost breaks your heart. I think every nursing home should have a resident animal to visit the patients and keep them connected to life outside. I know that there are many people who travel to such facilities with animals to cheer up the patients, but wouldn’t it be wonderful if there were full time pets on hand to keep them entertained and interested in something outside of themselves?

One thing I’ve noticed is that people who love animals seem to like wearing animal jewelry. That’s not so surprising, but it can be a tough thing to locate good animal jewelry that looks realistic enough.

Since I’m crazy about cats and I wear several sterling silver charms on a bracelet, I was happy to find this fluffy little cat charm a while back. What I really like is their not-so-innocent expression. Who hasn’t had a cat like that?

I’ve noticed that other animals are popular as pets now, as well. Guinea pigs, for instance. And even rats! People tell me they are very intelligent- almost like having a small dog that can ride on your shoulder. I don’t know about that, but I’m sure there are some very charming rats.

Like all good pet owners, I’m sure to take my cats to the vet for her checkup 2 times a year. The last time I went I noticed the vets and the vet techs were wearing some interesting name badges . They really seemed to brighten up the hospital and put everyone in a good mood. That’s how it seemed to me, anyway!

Just like the nursing home, it’s a good thing to lighten up the atmosphere in any health care facility, even one devoted to caring for sick or injured animals. Because of course the animals won’t notice something like this, but the owners certainly will, and they’re under some stress for sure; worried about their darling pet.

Almost anyone who loves animals has had the experience of losing one after a wonderful lifetime of fun together. Perhaps that’s the downside of the pet-human experience, but on the other hand that is the way life is, and it’s better to experience it and have a bit of sadness than not to ever share in that wonderful experience.