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Children and pets
Many times parents decide to get a pet
because they feel it is good for their children. The common arguments are
that these children will become more responsible, and develop a better
character because of the responsibility of having a pet.
Adults who had a pet as a child are more
positive about animals and have a better understanding of the non-verbal
signals of an animal.
Thanks to the child psychiatrist Boris
Levinson, we know something about the influence of pets on children.
Levinson was treating a boy who refused
to speak. One day the mother was a little early for her appointment.
Levinson had a dog, Jingles, who was normally not there during
working hours.
However, at that moment Jingles
happened to be hanging around and Levinson was amazed when he saw the boy
start to whisper in the dog's ear. After months of therapy, the doctor had
been unable to get one word from the boy!
This incident inspired Levinson to begin
research into the relation between children and pets.
Research shows that taking care of pets
does, in fact, make children more responsible. This, of course, works in
conjunction with the parents. At a very early age, children start learning
by imitating the parents. After a while, they are able to do some of the
pet-caring tasks on their own.
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For example, a three year old child
cannot clean a cage or walk a dog, but they can help feed an animal.
Learning to do these simple tasks well
can give the child a positive self-appreciation. Of course, since the child
must go to school, the parents will have the final responsibility. It's
important to remember that the pet cannot be an obstruction in the child's
development in other areas.
Another aspect is empathy. Because of
the interaction with animals, and learning to understand the feeling and
needs of an animal, they will also be more empathetic in their relations
with people.
Just having a pet does not automatically
make a child more responsible. The important thing is that the child must
become attached to the animal.
Some children just do not want to have
a live animal, nor to take care of one. In fact, in some families the
parents themselves want a pet, but insist they have it "for the children."
Always keep in mind the fact that very
young children will see their pet as a teddy bear or other stuffed animal.
If you squeeze it it barks or meows or purrs. So, when they see a live
animal they will try to do the same thing.
However, this one may growl or hiss to
say “go away, you hurt me”.
Because children don't realize this
fact, it could be dangerous. In this case, parents have a very important
task.
Children and pets make wonderful
companions, but parents always have a tremendous responsibility to see that
no harm comes to either.
And, remember, the animals are not supposed to end up as
victims. If, by chance, the child does not take a fancy to the pet, just
don't "throw it away" – that's certainly not the thing to teach our
children!
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