Having children is definitely not for everyone. Neither is having pets. But if you are the type of person who wants both in your life, you get to experience the joy of seeing both of them grow up together. And apparently, there are even benefits for kids who grow up in a household with pets.
Children’s Hospital Colorado notes that having a pet around is a great way to teach kids responsibility. They can be in charge of feeding the animal, giving it fresh water each day, playing with it, and cleaning its litter box/picking up after it. This is a great way for kids to learn how much work having a pet is, while understanding that it’s definitely worth it for the bond that they get to share with their animal.
We all know that pets provide wonderful companionship, which is great for kids too. If a child doesn’t have any siblings or spends a lot of time at home, it’s great for them to have someone around (other than their parents) who loves them unconditionally. If they’re bored, they can play with the cat. And if they’re sad, they can cuddle with their dog.
At the same time, pets can help kids develop their emotions. It’s important for children to understand how to be cognizant of those around them and how to be considerate of their feelings. Parents can explain this to their kids by teaching them to respect their body language. And, of course, kids might learn what it feels like to experience love for someone else for the first time with their pets. There’s nothing stronger than the bond between a pet and its owner.
One aspect of having pets that is extremely difficult to accept, albeit inevitable, is that eventually we will lose them. And as painful as this is, it’s often a child’s first experience with grief and loss. It’s heartbreaking every time, but going through this can help prepare kids for even bigger losses that they’ll experience in the future.
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Your pet will likely also benefit from having a kid in the house because children are energizer bunnies. While you’re busy making dinner, working from home, or on the phone scheduling doctors' appointments, your kid can keep your pets entertained. They can play fetch with your puppy in the backyard, keep your cat active with a laser pointer, and make sure that your bunnies never get bored. Children and pets both need plenty of playtime, so they might as well do it together!
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Another unexpected benefit of having pets around your children is the fact that they can reduce their risk of developing allergies. In fact, kids who are exposed to two or more cats or dogs as babies are less than half as likely to develop common allergies as their peers who have no pets in the home. This may be because, when a child plays with a pet, they’ll usually be licked by them. And being exposed to small amounts of the pet’s bacteria might help strengthen their immune system.
Pew Research Center reports that a whopping 97% of American pet owners say that their animals are members of the family. And 51% consider them to be just as important as human members of the family. So it’s no surprise that having a pet can help family bonding overall. The entire family might go on walks together every evening because the dog needs her exercise, and everyone might enjoy playing with the cat together. Sharing a love for animals is a great way to bring people together.
