Why Children Should Have Pets

Some parents never allow their children to have pets. Perhaps it's because they have allergies. I can't really argue against that. But how about parents who don't let their children have pets because they think pets are too much work or are too big of a mess? To that I would say that pets can provide important opportunities for children to learn to be responsible.

When my sister was growing up, she told my parents she wanted a dog. They told her she could get one on the condition that she clean up its poop in the yard, feed it, and overall take care of it. The dog would be an outdoor dog, except when the weather was bad, the dog could come into the garage through a doggy door. Similar conditions were established when my sister and I wanted to take ownership of my aunt's dog that she had to get rid of. Although she would be an indoor dog because she was small and didn't shed (she had hair instead of fur), my sister and I were jointly responsible for taking her out when she needed to go potty and for cleaning up her poop and feeding her and even paying for a dog sitter when we went out of town. I learned to be responsible and also learned how to cooperate with my sisters in taking turns fulfilling the various duties. I learned to clean up after my dog if she threw up on the floor or made a mess some other way.

Some may ask, "What if the child neglects to take care of the pet, for example, forgetting to feed it for several days in a row?" In that case, I would suggest the parent make sure the pet gets fed, but remind the child that it is his or her duty and threaten to get rid of the pet if they can not take care of it properly. My parents did that with me and it helped me to step up my game. Another good idea would be to have your child's first pet be a fish so that they can learn the consequences of neglecting to care for it. If they don't feed the fish, the fish dies. I think we find this method acceptable because fish die all the time, even sometimes for unknown causes.

Apart from the opportunity to learn responsibility, there are other benefits to letting your children have pets. One, it can bring them a lot of happiness. I loved my dog and found so much joy playing with her and cuddling with her. Two, studies show that children who have pets are less prone to develop allergies and asthma. Three, some pets, especially dogs, provide a great opportunity for children to be active and exercise. I remember my mom would usually have me take my dog for a walk at least once a week. Four, children can turn to their pets when they are upset and take comfort in their unconditional love, rather than turning to unhealthy ways to cope with sadness or anger. Five, one benefit I found especially interesting is that having pets can actually help children learn to read. Kids are often more comfortable reading to their pets than they are to humans, probably because pets do not criticize or correct them as they read. Six, studies have shown that having a pet helps children learn about discipline. Children have to learn to train their pets and be committed to their care.

If that's not enough to persuade you to let your children have a pet, just ask them why they want a pet and they're sure to tell you how happy it would make them. Your children will love you for allowing them to have a pet. It could be the best birthday gift they ever receive.