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 do. The unconditional love that a dog gives relieves stress and loneliness. Enjoying the company of a pet raises self-esteem and teaches empathy in youngsters. Dogs also help children become more aware of non-verbal communication. At least one study has shown that family members interact more once they bring home a pet. Ideally, animal professionals advise you to wait until your children are between seven and nine before you adopt a dog. But the reality is that your oldest child is 10 and your youngest, two. Or maybe you've owned your dog for many years before the baby was born. Is this a recipe for disaster?Of course not. But that doesn't mean that the adults in the family won't have their work cut out for them.
Each year, the American Humane Association holds the Be Kind to Animals (BKA) Kids ContestTM to honor children between the ages of 6 and 13 who have shown extreme compassion and kindness to animals. Take...
If you'd like your child to learn about responsibility, try getting a pet. At a very early age, children can learn the importance of responsibility, and as a result can learn important life lessons such...
If your child has said something that would give us a chuckle, tell us about it. We’ll share it with our readers.
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.
Poet William Blake once wrote, “Everyone that lives, lives not alone nor for itself,” and according to researchers and counselors, this may be one of the most important lessons pets teach children.
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