Children and pets at home: 7 points that you must value

Thinking of getting a pet? Do you have doubts about whether it is the most convenient for your children?

The responsibilities of caring for a pet

The decision to have a pet at home must be highly analyzed due to the amount of responsibilities that it entails: being aware of food, water, bathing, appointments to the vet, taking him for a walk, giving him affection.

But on many occasions parents doubt about the convenience of having pets at home. Not only because of the above, but also because of the question of whether it will be of benefit to your children, especially if they are young. His concern is not so much about the responsibilities of caring for an animal, but rather about its fear that their children do not understand that it is an animal and therefore, leave it abandoned or do not collaborate in its careful.

Minimum age?

On this point it is important to mention that It is at the age of 4 that children are ready to establish a true love relationship with their "faithful friend". Before that age it can be difficult for the child to fully understand the implications of having a pet at home, which she does not mean who cannot have a pet at home before that age, but it will require constant supervision and special preparation with the little animal.

Generally, when parents have been raised with pets in the home, it is easier for them to help their children to live with pets. However, it is an extremely interesting and emotional process when you really love animals and want to provide them with a home and our unconditional company.

Points to keep in mind when considering having a pet in the home

Below, we have decided to develop some tips and observations to help those parents who are deciding to bring a new family member home. Here you have some of the benefits that occur in children who live with their pet.

1. Self-esteem

The presence of a pet is like that of a faithful friend who accepts and loves you just the way you are, by ende children experience that unconditional love, which in turn increases the self-confidence and his or her environment.

2. Responsibility

Children understand in a very pleasant and receptive way the importance of fulfilling certain responsibilities for the well-being of their new friend: take care of it, bathe it, feed it, take it for a walk or play with it, are tasks that you do with pleasure for your friend. It is also interesting that, as parents, we take advantage of the situation to promote these types of values ​​in our children.

3. Social skills

In a relaxed and mutually accepting space, children learn to interact not only with their pet, but with children who are attracted to their "friend", thus being a simple way to overcome childhood fears. In addition to this, physical activity is increased, through walks, ball games, even within the same homes, which promotes a decrease in stress and an increase in the feeling of tranquility and joy.

4. Discipline

Knowing how to implement it, having a pet at home is an excellent opportunity to encourage discipline at home, since the child must teach and at the same time respect basic rules of coexistence. For example: it can teach you where to relieve yourself and the schedules, times to eat and go to sleep, but at the same time it must respect the space of the pet while she eats, provide her space to rest, between others.

5. Expression of emotions

In a quiet, trusting and welcoming space for the child, they learn to express affection, be careful in your dealings and easily understand expressions of non-verbal communication. For example, children learn to identify when the pet is sick or scared, as well as the development of intuition and empathy.

6. Union and family cohesion

There is no doubt that the presence of a pet involves all members of the family. Animals are usually very welcoming, tender, playful and friendly and have the ability to easily attract the attention of family members. Therefore, as time goes by, everyone becomes involved in their care, being on many occasions considered one more member of the family nucleus.

7. Breadth of sights

Sometimes sharing the care space at home with the pet It is positive when it comes to helping many children better assimilate the arrival of a baby brother.

Teaching and educating in an enabling environment

Many of the benefits to children who care for their pets are determined by the way the parents treat the animals. In this article benefits are mentioned starting from a loving, responsible, close relationship with animals, in no way We intend to humanize the influence of these mascots, but to place them in an important space within the constitution family.

This allows a closer, more affective relationship and therefore, obtain psychological and affective benefits such as those mentioned throughout the article.