A Living Education: Five Things Pets Teach Children

Digg

Del.icio.us

Stumble

A Living Education: Five Things Pets Teach Children

By: Alex Lieber

See Larger Image

Poet William Blake once wrote, "Everyone that lives, lives not alone nor for itself." This is especially true when it comes to our petsStain and Odor Remover
Nature's Miracle Stain and Odor Remover is Guaranteed to remove pet accident stains and odors that other products fail to remove including old uri.... And, according to researchers and counselors, it may be one of the most important lessons pets teach children.

Parents often bring a pet into the family to teach kids a sense of responsibility, or perhaps to provide an only child with a playmate. But children often learn something more fundamental about themselves and the world: how to empathize with others, how to understand subtle feelings and how to look at the world from a vastly different perspective.

"The child learns how the world and living things are interconnected," explains Rebecca Reynolds Weil, an occupational therapist and executive director of the Animals As Intermediaries program. AAI, based in Mass.

, is a nature-based educational and therapeutic program designed to help children and senior citizens connect with a world they may have trouble relating to. Animals are a vital part of the program, Weil says, because they stimulate curiosity and build empathy.

The program (www.aai-nature.org) brings the natural world to the program's participants, many of whom reside in institutional settings. But pets in the home can accomplish the same goals. On the emotional level, pets can teach children many things:

Communication: Children learn the subtle cues their pets give them to indicate their feelings. They can later apply this lesson to human interaction because they are more attuned to watching for body posture.

Empathy: Children often become curious about the emotions their pets feel. This curiosity will extend itself to others. "Animals offer an avenue for children to explore their curiosity," Weil explains. "For a child, curiosity can lead to hope and to greater engagement with the world around them."

Nurturing skills: If properly supervised by adults, a child learns how to take care of another living being, and take pleasure in keeping the pet healthy and happy.

Confidence: Children go through life under constant evaluation. They are rated by their behavior, grades and athletic performance. This is especially true of middle school children. Pets have no such expectations; they're delighted that the child is with them. "Pets give children the sense of unconditional acceptance," Weil says. "No judging or rating is involved."

Resilience to change: Children who undergo traumatic experiences often cope better when they have a pet to confide in. "Loneliness is very dangerous to children," Weil says. "Having an animal companion can make them feel a part of something."

A study published in 2000 explored the relationship between pets and children. Specifically, the study, conducted by a child psychologist in New Mexico, looked at the effect dog ownership had on 10- to 12-year-old children. The researcher, Robert E. Bierer, Ph.D., was surprised at the difference in empathy and self-esteem between preadolescents who owned a dog and those who did not.

Bierer's conclusions support the growing body of evidence that shows dog ownership has "statistically significant" impact on self-esteem and sensitivity toward others. He noted that teachers, parents and other children have expectations for a child to fulfill. A pet has no such measures of success or failure; acceptance is total, which provides a sense of self worth.

Pets also teach children about the importance of taking care of themselves. For instance, Weil says she teaches children why it is important to take care of a pet, brush his teeth and keep him clean. When they understand the importance, Weil turns the focus on the children themselves. If brushing a dog's teeth is important for his health, then naturally it is important for the child's well being.

This doesn't necessarily mean that all children are ready for pet ownership. Parents should first make sure their child desires a pet before rushing out to get one. Together, they should decide what type of pet is best. Moreover, don't assume your child will take care of the dog. The ultimate responsibility usually falls on the parent, not the kid, to make sure the pet is healthy.

For more information on pets and children, see How to Keep Dogs and Kids Together and Pros and Cons of Pet Types for Kids.

Printable Version

Digg

Del.icio.us

Stumble

Share this Article with a Friend Email To:

Have a Pet Question?

Send Your Pet Question to Dr. Jon
and His Staff of Veterinarians

Dr. Jon's Newsletter

Yes! Send Me the Latest Health Information, Pet Tips, Pet Stories and more...

Search Over 15,000 articles

1 Top Pets for Kids
Your 6-year-old comes to you and says he needs more meaning and direction in his life – just the sort of thing a pet can provide. Then comes the begging and the bargaining.
Read More
2 Best Birds for Kids
You want to introduce a bird to your home but aren’t sure what breed will fit best in your hurly-burly, kid-populated household. Here are some breeds should fit well into your household.
Read More
3 Top Dog Breeds for Families
You have decided to get a dog, but with so many breeds available, which one would be good for your family and what characteristics should you look for? Here are the top 20 breeds you may want to consider....
Read More
4 Are Bunnies Good for Kids?
Rabbits are frequently given as soft cuddly gifts during the springtime, especially around Easter, but do these cute, cuddly rabbits make good pets for kids? You may want to consider a stuffed bunny instead...
Read More
5 How to Keep Dogs and Kids Together
The bond between dogs and humans is strongest and most precious in childhood, when playfulness, imagination and emotions rule. Studies have shown that kids benefit just as much from dog ownership as adults...
Read More
6 Pros and Cons of Pet Types for Kids
Not all pets are for everybody, but there are certain species that will thrive with the love and attention of children - or in spite of it.
Read More

Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles

Dogs & Puppies

Dog Breeds

labrador retriever, golden retriever, yorkshire terriers, german shepherds, beagle, boxers

Dog Medication

dog allergy medication, dog pain medication, dog anxiety medication, dog flea medication

Dog Products

dog bowls, dog crates, dog toys, dog beds, dog ramps, dog food storage, dog tags

Dog Symptoms

dog vomiting, dog limping, dog diarrhea, dog bad breath, dog coughing, dog seizures

Dog Health

dog cancer, dog diabetes, dog epilepsy, dog hip dysplasia, dog health, sick dog

Dog Care

dog vaccination, dog microchipping, dog grooming, dog neutering, dog spaying, dogs mating

Dog Training

dog aggression, dog barking, dog chewing, dog behavior, dog jumping, dog whisperer

Dog Pictures

puppy pictures, funny dogs, cute dogs, dog breeds, sleeping dogs, silly dogs, small dogs

Cats

Cat Breeds

persian, siamese cats, devon rex, ragdoll cats, sphynx, maine coon cat

Cat Medication

cat flea medication, cat heartworm control, cat tick medications

Cat Products

cat litter box, cat food, cat bed, cat flea collar, cat carrier, cat urine odor

Cat Symptoms

cat vomiting, cat limping, cat diarrhea, cat bad breath, cat coughing

Cat Health

cat health, cat liver cancer, cat diabetes, cat scratch fever, cat aids, sick cat

Cat Care

cat vaccination, cat grooming, cat microchipping, cat neutering, cat spaying

Cat Behavior

cat urine marking, cat furniture scratching, cat litterbox training, cat toilet training, cat fears

Cat Pictures

cute cats, funny cats, playful cats, fat cats, jumping cats, lazy cats, sleeping cats, cute kittens

1How to Keep Dogs and Kids Together
The bond between dogs and humans is strongest and most precious in childhood, when playfulness, imagination and emotions rule. Studies have shown that kids benefit just as much from dog ownership as adults...
Read More
2Pros and Cons of Pet Types for Kids
Not all pets are for everybody, but there are certain species that will thrive with the love and attention of children - or in spite of it.
Read More
3Are Bunnies Good for Kids?
Rabbits are frequently given as soft cuddly gifts during the springtime, especially around Easter, but do these cute, cuddly rabbits make good pets for kids? You may want to consider a stuffed bunny instead...
Read More
4Top Dog Breeds for Families
You have decided to get a dog, but with so many breeds available, which one would be good for your family and what characteristics should you look for? Here are the top 20 breeds you may want to consider....
Read More
5Best Birds for Kids
You want to introduce a bird to your home but aren’t sure what breed will fit best in your hurly-burly, kid-populated household. Here are some breeds should fit well into your household.
Read More
6Top Pets for Kids
Your 6-year-old comes to you and says he needs more meaning and direction in his life – just the sort of thing a pet can provide. Then comes the begging and the bargaining.
Read More

A Living Education: Five Things Pets Teach Children

A Living Education: Five Things Pets Teach Children

Related Articles

Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles