Snippets

Should you get a pet for your child

To some parents the acquisition of a pet for their child is a natural progression from their childhood, where pets were part of the extended family and were  afeature of home and growing up. Some parents may have pets in the home before children come along and then a status quo is reached where pets and offspring live in harmony to form the family unit – although this is the ideal situation, but in reality is not always the case.

Other parents may ask; is it safe, will my child come to harm, how will it fit into my lifestyle, do I know how to look after a pet, do I want the additional responsibility and burden?

There has been much research and study on the effect of having a pet in the home and the relationship between children and animals. The detail is well documented in books, papers, articles and on the internet and the benefits are numerous and the studies and evidence too overwhelming to dispute. However it is dependent on having the right pet, treating it correctly and ensuring responsible pet ownership……………read more about this in the Chapter “why pets are good for children” when my book is published. 

Choosing the right pet

Choosing the pet is the most important part of the whole experience; get the wrong pet and it may become a burden, your child will not gain any benefits and family pets may become a nightmare experience never to be repeated. The old adage “a pet is for life and not just for Christmas” doesn’t only apply to Christmas; birthdays, rewards, treats and even spontaneous whims all come under the same heading. Take time, discuss at length, speak to other parents and experts and most importnat of all involve your children in the process. After all, they are the ones that we are expecting to love it, look after it and reap benefits from its inclusion in the family. The importance of thorough research cannot be overstated – and it may be that you have to say “No” to your child for certain types of pet, but including them in the choice of a more suitable pet is a valuable lesson in life and not one to be avoided.

Choosing the wrong pet and finding it a nightmare experience, or feeling resentment or criticism towards your child if they are unable to look after or take responsibility for the pet, gives all the wrong messages to that child. They are in danger of feeling a failuire, feeling bereft if they have become attached to the pet and it subsequently has to be re-homed or even euthanased or, worse still, may feel that it is acceptable to treat a pet as a disposible item and get rid of it when it becomes a nuisance, a burden -or they simply become bored of it……………read the book once it is published where there will be a whole chapter dedicated to “choosing the right pet”

Before you buy your pet

So you have decided to get a pet for your child, you know what type of pet you are looking for. Now is the time to make the rules – before the pet arrives and whilst your child is still receptive to “conditions of ownership”. Once they have a pet in their arms, or the new cage or tank, it could be very difficult to set rules, and even more difficult to correct bad habits once they have become entrenched. These may be in the form of responsbilities for the pet, such as feeding, providing water, cleaning and exercise or play. Or it may be restrictions on how they play or interact with the pet, especially where there may be implications for other family members, for your house or garden or for other people.

Remember that your main reason for acquiring a pet for your child is to encourage an emotional attachment as well as to provide a beneficial relationship between your child and their pet. So put some careful thought into the rules so that they encourage bonding, but do not make the pet a burden for the family, do  not allow suffering for the pet, are clear, easy to follow and understandable. You don’t want too many – so the ones that you make need to be good. Follow the general rule that I have used throughout my daughters childhood; don’t make a rule that is going to be difficult for them to keep and lets not put them off before the pet even arrives……………….examples of do’s and dont’s can be found in the Chapter “Rules for the Kids”