Pets are a part of many children’s lives. Parental involvement, open discussion, and planning are necessary to help make pet ownership a positive experience for everyone. A child who learns to care for an animal and treat it kindly and patiently may get invaluable training in learning to treat people the same way.
Choosing an Appropriate Pet
Many kinds of pets can bring children pleasure, but, it is important to choose a type of pet that is right for your family, home, and lifestyle; and one, preferably, that your child can help provide care. Any animal can be a potential threat to children so parents should never allow their young child to spend unmonitored time with the animal and they need to be especially cautious about having aggressive animals as pets. Exotic or unusual animals may be difficult to care for and should be considered very carefully.
Caring for a Pet
Taking care of a pet can help children develop social skills. However, certain guidelines apply:
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 other purposes for children:
Other physical and emotional needs fulfilled by pet ownership include:
Although most children are gentle and appropriate with pets, some may be overly rough or even abusive. If such behavior persists, it may be a sign of significant emotional problems. Any child who abuses, tortures or kills animals should be referred to a child and adolescent psychiatrist for a comprehensive evaluation.
Adapted from Copyright © 2015 by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.