There are many important things that we teach our children as they grow up. One of the largest and most important lessons that are taught is respect for living things and taking care of others. A pet is an optimal way to teach these lessons and also a way to give you child a friend that they will love and trust for years to come. While it is always nice to have a pet for your child, you must prepare them and show them how to take care of the animals before and during the course of ownership. When the pet passes away, it is also an opportunity to explain to your child about death.
Teaching Responsibility:
At some point your child will come to you asking for a pet. All children have this innate desire to own a pet. If yu are ready as a parent to teach them and guide them on this journey, allow them the opportunity. A really good idea at this point is to borrow a friends cat or dog. Tell your child that it is their responsibility to feed, water, walk and play with the animal. he general care should be left completely up to the child. Do this for two weeks, if the child religiously and meticulously takes care of the animal, you can then star the process of looking for an animal that fits your family.
Allow your child to pick out the pet, within reason of course. The first family pet should not be an exotic pet as they need additional care that your child may not be up for just yet. A cat or a dog is is the best place to start. If you allow your child to pick out the animal, they will fee a certain kinship with the animal and will be more likely to take care of it. They will feel as though the pet is, “their”. When they feel this way, it brings out the parental feeling in a child and they will do thier best to take care of the pet by themselves.
When the time comes for the pet to pass away, your child will be distraught, but it is a valuable lesson. Everything dies with time. It is hard for a parent to watch their child deal with this particular lesson, but it is an essential one. The bottom line is that a pet can offer not only a friend, but some of life’s most important lessons.