Friday, October 28, 2011

Have a Pet in Your Home, for Your Child!

By Georgina Davidson


Main part of children's life is a pet. The relationship between a pet and child can be a breathtaking to observe the unconditional love and tender care at their best. Children can adopt pets, but they need assistance to do the job right. Planning, open discussion, and parental involvement are necessary to help make pet ownership a positive experience for everyone. A child, who care for an animal and treat it kindly and patiently, may get the precious training in learning to treat people the same way. Moreover careless treatment of animals is unhealthy for both the pet and the child involved.

Normally all kind of pet can bring children happiness. But it is important to choose a pet that is right for your family, your home, and your lifestyle; and one that your child can help care for. Parents should be careful about having aggressive animals as pets. Foreign and unusual animals may be difficult to care for and should be considered very carefully.

Taking care of a pet can help children develop social skills. However, certain guidelines apply: Since very young children (under the age of 3-4 years) do not have the maturity to control their aggressive and angry impulses, they should be monitored with pets at all times. Young children (under 10 years) are unable to care for a large animal, a cat or a dog, on their own. Parents must supervise the pet's care even if they believe their child is old enough to care for a pet. If children become lax in caring for a pet, parents may have to take over the responsibility on their own. Children should be reminded in a gentle, not scolding way, that animals, like people, need food, water, and exercise. If a child continues to neglect a pet, a new home may have to be found for the animal. Parents serve as role models. Children learn responsible pet ownership by observing their parents' behavior.

Advantages of Pet Ownership

Children raised with pets show many benefits. Developing positive feelings about pets can contribute to a child's self-esteem and self-confidence. Positive relationships with pets can aid in the development of trusting relationships with others. A good relationship with a pet can also help in developing non-verbal communication, compassion, and empathy. Pets can serve different purposes for children: They can be safe recipients of secrets and private thoughts--children often talk to their pets, like they do their stuffed animals. They provide lessons about life; reproduction, birth, illnesses, accidents, death, and bereavement. They can help develop responsible behavior in the children who care for them. They provide a connection to nature. They can teach value for other living things.

Although the majority children are calm and appropriate with pets, some may be overly violent or even abusive. It may be a sign of significant emotional problems, if such behavior persists. Any child who abuses, tortures or kills animals should be referred to a child and adolescent psychiatrist for a comprehensive evaluation.




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