If you haven’t experienced it yet, you will! Your kids will visit a friend’s house and fall in love with their family pet, or maybe a classmate will bring their furry friend into Show and Tell and your children will be smitten. However it happens the serenity of your home will be shattered by endless wide-eyed pleas to bring a pet into the home.
If you don’t have pets already then it’s a big decision to make as a parent whether the child or the household is ready for the responsibility. Here’s how you can make sure that your kids are happy responsible pet owners.
Are pets a good idea?
Potentially, a pet is a wonderful addition to your child’s life. It can teach them responsibility, obligation, empathy, and eventually (however much it may break their heart-and yours) how to come to terms with loss. While there are numerous benefits to pet ownership, it’s vitally important that the child has the cognitive and emotional maturity to handle the responsibility. You also need to consider your own role in all of this. Are you cool with inviting a kitten in your home knowing that it may shred your sofa or leave claw marks in your coffee table? If you’re at all unsure then you should take a very cautious approach to introducing pets into the family.
Starting small
Generally speaking, the smaller the pet the smaller the responsibility. Goldfish for example, look beautiful and your kids will love picking them out and choosing decorations for them to adorn their tank. They also require very little maintenance, only needing daily feeding and occasional cleaning as needed. Plus, they sit unobtrusively in the living room or your child’s bedroom so you don’t need to worry about them trashing the place.
If they prove themselves able to manage a fish, maybe upgrade them to a caged rodent like hamsters, mice or guinea pigs. These are low maintenance pets that allow the tactile pleasure of petting and handling them that a fish does not.
If they prove themselves responsible for these fairly independent pets then it may be time to consider the added responsibility of a dog or a cat.
State of mind
As a parent it’s important to engender the correct state of mind that ensures that children are aware of their obligation to the pet and their role as the primary caregiver. This should be gauged carefully, so it’s not recommended to give children a pet as a surprise for a birthday or Christmas. Instead, you should use it as a reward for demonstrating responsibility elsewhere (such as doing all their chores or doing well in school).
By all means support them if they struggle, but don’t fall into the trap of caring for the pet on their behalf. If, after a few weeks the novelty wears off and their interest in the pet wanes, it’s important to address this with them. Ensure that they understand that they are failing their pet and not living up to their responsibility. They should also be aware of the consequences of negligence such as having to rehome the pet.
