Why children with pets learn to be better people

Some in a dog, cat, guinea pig, bird or fish needs, care And most importantly: they are living things, not toys. Adopting an animal requires deep reflection, involving the whole family, including the little ones. Caring for a pet contributes to: educational and social development and it forces them to take responsibility. While the primary care of the pet corresponds to adults, you can start by asking them to cooperate in different daily tasks, from changing water to cleaning the sand or accompanying them on their walks in the park. Nearly every child has added a pet wish to their gift list at some point.

This is a decision that should be taken calmly and everyone should be included family members. It is important to consider the lifestyle of each home, the space the animal will have, the economic situation of the family, and the time required for care. The companionship of a pet contributes to the educational, emotional and social development of children (for example, it helps children with attention deficit and hyperactivity focus their attention); It forces them to take responsibility, facilitates their communication, and learns values ​​such as respect for others. The first thing that needs to be explained to the child is that a pet is a living being and his space and personality must be respected, and above all his moments of rest and meal.

key education

According to the Purina Foundation, the education we provide to children and adolescents is crucial for them to become responsible adults in the future. Their goals in responsible pet adoption programs are clear: to the next generation of owners. care, understand and take responsibility the welfare of your pets. Therefore, the goal through this type of program is to achieve a more positive future for pets, their owners and society in general. Some points to keep in mind are:

-Teach kids feed your petis one of the main responsibilities to ensure well-being.

– Make them understand what they have to do interfere with housework such as grooming, cleaning, or exercise. In addition to spending quality time with the animal, they will learn to take responsibility for their basic needs.

-The ideal, though not always possible gradually involve the pet. The aim is to prepare all members of the family for the arrival of the new member of the family and in this way to instill in children the behaviors they should have towards the newcomer. They need to understand the changes this will entail.

-About the animal gentle movements and a calm voice. In this way, the pet is prevented from being afraid, nervous or nervous.

Remind kids that while there’s nothing more fun than playing with a pet, you should have it. very clear boundaries: Do not pull or suddenly approach the ears. Over time, the child will begin to understand the character of the animal and a bond of friendship will form between them, but without forgetting, attention should be paid to the appropriate behavior at first.

– It should be clear that the pet needs care. completely inalienable Adults are responsible for minors in the household. However, depending on their age, they can gradually take on some responsibilities.

-You can start ask them for cooperation As we say for certain daily tasks such as providing food, changing their water, combing their hair, when it comes to cats they can also help clean litter boxes, always with adult supervision. Second, in addition, it can be very helpful in explaining to little ones the importance of caring for the environment.

Age according to your responsibility

If our son wants a pet, we should think about it and act accordingly. You should not give in to your whims if you think that later you will not be able to take care of yourself as you should. This is one of the propositions that many pets are eventually abandoned… and in this case we are not just talking about dogs or cats; but also small rodents, turtles and even birds. Here we give some advice about the age at which our child can start having a pet, I repeat responsibly and always under the supervision of an adult.

From the age of five, you can take care of pets that do not require much attention, such as turtles, fish, hamsters, rabbits or guinea pigs. They will be able to take care of their food and drink (adult should remind them until they make it a habit). You can also participate in cage, aquarium or terrarium cleaning. Even if they know that small animals need peace of mind and that they don’t have to spend all their time getting them. Them they have privacy.

-It can also be a cat between the ages of six and seven. a suitable pet, but in the case of dogs it is better to wait until they are at least 10 years old because in addition to feeding them and playing with them, they will have to take them for a walk. In this case, the size of the dog should also be taken into account and this should be proportional to the strength of the child so that he can always control it.

Finally, in addition to age, the person think about the personality of the child and their degree of responsibility, not all 10-year-olds are mature enough to care for a dog or cat. In the case of a dog, we should accompany him on the first walks until we are sure he can do it alone.