What Do Pets Teach Our Children?

For children, family pets also offer the opportunity to learn life skills.

You might be asking, “Are dogs good for kids and what can kids learn from them?”

We’re never too young or too old to learn from our pets. Dog ownership and taking care of your family dog provides daily lessons in devotion, along with examples of how to be present and grateful.

Everyone who loves a dog knows the joy of their companionship, along with the weight of responsibility of pet ownership.  Every parent who strives to raise responsible humans can look to their family pet for relevant and age-appropriate teaching parables.

Unconditional Friendship

Homecoming with your best four-footed friend on the other side of the door is like winning the lottery every time you return home. A faithful dog doesn’t care if you’re not sporting the latest fashion trend or if you failed the math test. They’re not going to bully or mock, but will instead bowl you over with exuberant joy at being reunited. Through their acceptance, pet dogs help teach children to accept themselves.

As far as we know, a Dachshund has never been concerned with having shorter legs than a Great Dane, and a Basset Hound is never concerned with having wider hips than a Whippet. This shows that dog breed differences don't affect their self-esteem, and children may adopt this concept.

Feeling different when growing up can be tough. Children learn from their furry companion animals to love themselves. That acceptance is something every little person needs to experience, to grow into an adult, capable of respecting the uniqueness of others.

Responsibility

Remember begging your parents for a furry friend (maybe a golden retriever) and promising you'd do all the work if only they’d let you bring the puppy home? The first couple of days as a dog owner were idyllic, but soon some of the joy was overshadowed by puddles and chores. Children learn patience alongside the responsibilities of pet care and having a kid-friendly dog.

It takes time and patience to succeed in dog training, especially potty training a puppy. Some pets may be slower to learn than others, and potty training isn’t something that can be taught overnight. Having children assist in this puppy training shows young dog owners the benefits of patient persistence.

Moreover, children can learn the importance of feeding and providing the right nutrition for their pets. Having them understand why they should give fresh dog food like lean meats and vegetables to their dogs can instill a sense of responsibility and care.

Consistency, Dedication and Tenacity

Along with reinforcing the structure of skill acquisition, each task mastered allows children to experience the thrill of accomplishment – something that is reinforced with every repetition of Fido’s new trick.

For example, when they are able to prepare raw dog food recipes and see the positive impact on their dog's health, it reinforces the importance of their efforts. Opting for pet food delivery can further ensure that their pets receive consistent, nutritious meals, enhancing their overall well-being.

The Value of Partnering with Others

Police Search and Rescue and Personal Service dogs provide everyday examples of not just headline heroism, but also daily kindness. Children see and absorb the small acts that bond therapy dogs to us, whether it’s helping a sight-impaired neighbor cross the street, calming the anxiety of a grandparent with Alzheimer’s, or enabling a returning soldier to deal with PTSD.

Non-Verbal Communication

Dogs are constantly communicating with us and with each other through dog body language.  They teach important non-verbal cues and the need to observe our surroundings. A wagging tail and open mouth indicate a friendly invitation, while raised hackles and a stiff body often signal a warning to stay away.  (Interestingly, cats meow only to communicate with humans, but not with each other!)

Emotional Expression and Empathy

Children apply human characteristics to animals—they wonder how animals are feeling, and what they are thinking. Through their love of the family pet, children learn to show concern for others.  Pets stimulate a natural inclination to empathize1, which forms the basis for later human relationships.

Healthy Ways to Grieve

The loss of a pet is often a child’s first experience with death.  Whether suddenly or from a painful journey, gone is their confidant, their protector and their best friend.  Through these hard experiences, children learn the fragility and value of life and its ups and downs. This provides parents with the opportunity to teach healthy ways to grieve. 

Sharing happy memories keeps love alive. Accepting another pet into their life teaches children it’s possible to love again.

Having Fun

There’s nothing like seeing your dog at the park, or with their pack feeling frisky and free.  For us humans, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind and the stresses life throws in our path. Children feel those pressures, too!  School and chores are important—but so is having fun.

Our pets teach us that sometimes the best cure for whatever ails us is to let loose— to roll in the grass or chase the ball, to languish in the sun or nap in the shade.  Children benefit both mentally and physically from playtime, and there’s nothing like a great companion pet to bring them back to the fresh air and exercise we all need — to the activities and acceptance that make every age happy.

Sources:

Research Gate. A Comparison of Empathy for Humans and Empathy for Animals. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275821308_A_Comparison_of_Empathy_for_Humans_and_Empathy_for_Animals

Care2. Care2 gives you the tools to make the impossible possible: https://www.care2.com/

Tree Hugger. Kids Who Grow Up With Dogs and Cats Are More Emotionally Intelligent and Compassionate. http://www.mnn.com/family/pets/blogs/kids-who-grow-up-with-dogs-and-cats-are-more-emotionally-intelligent-and#ixzz3a3Kzki00