From teaching social skills to improving reading levels, not to mention building compassion, Fido and Fluffy do a lot more for your children than keep their toes warm at night! Here are 10 great reasons to add a furry member to your family.
- Children who have a pet tend to do be more responsible! In helping care for a family pet, a child learns how to take responsibility for the care of others and of him or herself.
- Having a pet builds self-confidence! A furry friend is a nonjudgmental presence, usually brimming with approval, that can make any child feel less stressed and more confident in his or her abilities, experts say.
- Your child will always have someone to talk to! How many times have you heard a child whispering secrets to an animal? A pet can be a confident, a friend, and a comfort if your child is upset.
- Having a pet can help teach children about the life cycle and give them a connection to the animals found in nature! That could come in handy later on in Earth and Life Science classes…
- Often, a child’s first experience with death comes from the passing of a beloved pet. Children learn to work through their grief at a younger age and are more equip to deal with it in the future, says the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
- New studies show that having pets can help prevent allergies and respiratory conditions! You child can build up immunities to all sorts of allergies when exposed to pets long-term.
- Pets give your child an outlet to get outside and play, or at least motivate them to turn away from the television and computer! This leads to a love of exercise and a fitter lifestyle.
- An animal friend can improve your child’s social skills! They can practice manners and conversations with their bushy buddy. Also, many children at their school will have pets as well, so a mutual love for animals can be a built-in conversation starter for shy children.
- Children learn compassion and respect for other living things! Especially for boys, it is important to show that nurturing and caring are not “girl things,” that showing respect for all life is something all humans should aspire to.
And the last but certainly not least reason to have a pet-lovin’ kid is:
10. Children tend do better at school and to be more focused on their studies if they have an animal study partner! Many teachers have reported that students who talk about their pets are more focused and driven in class. Pets can even help with vocal skills if your child reads aloud to his or her pet from a favorite book.
For more information about how your child could benefit from a furry friend, call the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region’s Education Manager at 719.302.8739.
