Having A Pet Teaches Kids About Life and Death

Kids Learn About Birth, Life and Death from Pets

Children are fascinated by baby animals at an early age because of their size, their warm body, their 4 legs, the way they "talk," they can see and feel it breathe and feel the heartbeat. Kids learn pets are "alive" - like they are. Sometimes parents expose their kids to the birth process through animals. 

Kids also sometimes learn their first lesson on death from the loss of a beloved pet. Losing a pet hurts and we go through the same stages of grief when we lose a pet as we do when we lose a good friend or relative. Guilt, denial, anger and depression are natural responses. Talk about it, write about it, maybe put together a photo album about the pet. Tell your kids how you are going to respectively take care of the remains and make sure they understand. Pets give us the opportunity to talk about birth, life and death and hopefully teach our kids about them. Picture from FanPop.com

Benefits of Having A Pet

"Only Children" Bond With Their Pets

Companionship and love are at the top of the list of benefits that pets bring to homes with one child. Having a pets help only children adjust to new situations, keeps them company, and gives them a pal to talk to when parents are busy. Kids learn how to nurture and care for their pet. Pets helping them recover from illness. Pets help them stay healthier, the list goes on and on. The one thing that delights me is when children play with their pets. When you don’t have a brother or sister and the neighborhood kids aren’t available, pets love attention and like to have fun as much as kids do. Kids and pets love to run, chase each other and play games. Here’s a delightful picture of a little girl who spent time creating a tea party picnic for her pet. There are bone shaped sandwiches, carrots, dog treats and water and fruit. It looks like this little dog is enjoying the pampering and very happy to be invited to this backyard party on a warm summer day. Just one of the benefits of having a pet!

What To Do This Summer?

If you have a child that loves dogs or horses, think about finding a summer camp that supports their activities with their pet.  When you put kids together with their pet and help them learn more about how to train and care for them, you help establish a life-long bond that connects your child to all animals. There are summer camps for learning about Therapy Dogs, for Dog Training, for Dog Sports. There are Horse Camps for both kids that want to ride horses and children that need therapy that horses can provide. Many shelters offer summer day camps where children learn about pets. Spend some time searching the internet for local camps, then check them out by talking to families who’s children have been to the camp and asking for recommendations from local vets, dog trainers, dog groomers or pet sitters. Visit the camp to make sure that both you and your child are comfortable that it’s a positive, fun and safe place for kids and pets. It will be an experience your child will treasure for life.

Having A Dog Increases Exercise of Kids

A pet's physical needs for activity, exercise and play contribute to encouraging exercise for children. Playing with their pet, especially if it's a dog or cat, promotes exercise for both kids and pets. Whether it's walking the dog with a parent, throwing balls or sticks for their dog to chase, or letting their cat chase a string they're pulling, activity is good for kids and pets.

Having A Dog Good for Boys and Girls

• Studies Show Boys and girls love pets equally. Gender doesn't seem to matter when it comes to loving a pet. In fact, studies have found it may be more beneficial for boys to have a pet during early childhood. In today's world men and women share household responsibilities, caring for children and supporting the family financially, but observing boys as young as 4, pre-school teachers found that boys think playing with dolls (caring for babies) is “women’s work.” They not only avoided playing with dolls but also didn't want to help care for younger children. Instead their preferred activities were related to sports, playing with cars and trucks and “going to work.” Pets help children develop nurturing, caring and empathy.

Having A Dog Fosters Caring, Nuturing

Dogs Help Kids Develop Non-Verbal Communication, Compassion and Empathy.

According to the AACAP* “A good relationship with a pet can also help children in developing non-verbal communication, compassion and empathy.” Pets can be safe listeners to the secrets and private thoughts of children. Pets provide children with information about all phases of life: birth, illness, accidents, injury, death and grief - and teach respect for all living things. *American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry  February 2012

Having A Dog Helps Kids Learn to Care

• Helping you take care of a pet can help a child learn to nurture, connect with other people and become a caring person.  Children need to learn to care for others and establish secure relationships and attachments early in their development. Today’s latchkey kids, mixed families, “alternating households” and play things (when’s the last time you saw a child playing with a baby doll?) don’t foster nurturing but connecting with animals does. Even if your child can't have a pet for whatever reason, they can learn about pets and visit your friend's pets and help them care for their pet.