Lessons in Pet Care Are Essential For Kids

Abusive households are not the sole preserve of abusive behaviour towards pets; studies show that it happens too in ordinary non-abusive households. We learn from this that children imitate the behaviour they witness, do not outgrow it, but pass it down to the next generation. Your children will learn how to treat pets and people by watching how you treat the pets and the people in your life.

No detail escapes the attentive eyes of children.

Kids are extremely observant. The way you love and look after your pet will be carefully observed by them. They will pay close attention to how you respond when a pet has an accident, scratches the furniture, chews on your shoes, barks or whines. When pets behave in such ways, adults can become exasperated. As adults, your children will learn how to deal with any problems relating to their pets by seeing how you reacted to similar problems when they were children. If your reaction to a puppy that's misbehaving is not constructive, you will be providing a bad example to your child. This could impact on your child's personality and their relationship with animals as they grow older.

There's a Right Way and There's a Wrong Way.

If your pet is exhibiting undesirable behaviour, then you need to handle it in a constructive manner. Neither your child nor your pet will benefit by your becoming furious; both will feel terror and confusion. Your pets are not insensitive animals, but beings that are capable of feelings and emotions. There are many similarities between animals and people. Pets do not misbehave for no reason. It is your responsibility as a pet owner to get to the root of the problem rather than shouting at your dog for messing on the carpet, for instance. Below are questions you are going to have to think about and take into account in order to figure out why your pet is acting up.

- Are they lounging about too much?
- Are they getting enough attention?
- Are they left at home on their own too often?
- Do they need feeding?
- Are they ill?

How they are behaving may be the result of something quite simple. All possible items have to be considered before you arrive at the true reason. An analysis of the pet's behaviour could lead to a sound diagnosis. You may find that contacting an animal training facility or scheduling obedience training classes will help. If your pet's health appears to have deteriorated as well, don't hesitate to consult your veterinarian. Check the terms of your pet insurance policy too - if your pet has developed a condition for which they will need ongoing treatment, you want to make sure that your pet plan has full lifetime cover.

Don't Give Up

If your pet is misbehaving, do not give up and do not even think about getting rid of your pet. Abandoning the problem - or the pet - is unfair to the pet and your children and is never a satisfactory answer. Every year thousands of pets are discarded by people who find looking after them too difficult. Pets - especially dogs and cats - grow as attached to their family members as we do to them. Giving up with a pet as soon as it needs your support and help is unacceptable. You will not be able to eliminate the problem unless you have first found out the reasons for it. Getting rid of your pet as a result of its bad behaviour won't send the right message to your child about trust, commitment, and responsibility. You should avoid giving your child the idea that a problem is dealt with by running away from it. A child's confidence, social skills, and general maturity have been proven to be increased by caring for a pet.

How to Deal with Problems.

If problems occur with your pets, then it is your responsibility as a pet owner to get to the core of the problem. The problems you are having with your pet's behaviour can usually be sorted out by a veterinarian or other animal professional. Never forget that you are your child's mentor. Your child looks up to you, and will follow your example. Teaching a child how to take proper care of a pet is every parent's responsibility. For example, you need to teach your child how to discipline the animal without physically harming the pet or emotionally abusing it. You should treat your pet in exactly the same way that you would treat your best friend. Their love should be reciprocated. It's important that any misbehaviour by your pet is followed by productive discipline. Children must learn that unacceptable behaviour to other children is equally unacceptable to pets. A pet deserves to be treated with as much respect as a person. If a child becomes abusive to a pet, whether the abuse is intentional or not, the parent needs to speak to the child, explain why it's wrong and then explain the correct way to approach the matter. Providing the basics of food, shelter, pet health care and love need not be difficult or expensive. All the family will benefit emotionally and physically, at the time and later, by having a pet to love and care for.

Stephanie Andrew writes, edits and publishes articles for SEO consultants ePage Solutions, whose clients include the UK's only not-for-profit pet insurance and horse insurance company, Animal Friends. All AFI's net profits are donated to animal charities and welfare organisations around the world.

You can get a quick online quote for your cat, dog or horse insurance, or give the friendly and knowledgeable sales team a call on 0844 55 70 300. All the staff at the call centre in Wiltshire, UK, are animal lovers too, and will be happy to advise you on purchasing a policy which best suits your needs.

The Essential Role of Pet Keeping for Children's Healthy Development

Whether you decide before or after you have children to bring a pet into your lives, it is important to consider the effects it will have on children's healthy development throughout their early years. The essential role of pet keeping for children's healthy development is a topic all too often overlooked. Children's healthy development depends on the way you introduce a pet and the care you give a pet while your kids are in the vital stages of development.

Before you choose a new pet to bring home to the family, there are many important factors in picking the right one! Deciding what type of animal you want is the first step. The best pets for families are typically cats and dogs; they have stable lives and can easily become a part of a family, aiding in children's healthy development. Most families will thrive more efficiently if they avoid choosing exotic pets such as spiders and snakes as they can become frightening for younger children, and the novelty often wears off.

When you bring home a new pet, you should always train them in obedience and respect. In doing so, children will development a sense of responsibility, even if they are not the ones directly responsible for the pet's care. You must enforce the rules that you set for your new pet so that children will develop a healthy yearning to guide their pet in the right direction. Pet's can be a great part of a family and bring new light and enjoyment to a home. Many children find that pet's are great companions long before they can realize what a friend truly is. Keeping a pet will not only teach your child respect and responsibility, but also what a loving and kind relationship is.

Many parents focus in on the way their children development from the day they are conceived. Whether you have a cat or a dog there are important things to focus on as well. Initially, many children may not be prepared for the arrival of a pet. It is equally challenging for a child to deal with the death of their pet. It can be a difficult time, but many children have their first understanding of life and death through their pets. To be sure that your children will be able to handle what can be a significantly trying time in their life, you should keep your pet's memory alive even after they pass. Find a memorial pet urn to keep your cats remains in and a special dog urn to lovingly respect your pooch and let their memory live on forever. Doing so can greatly help your child deal with the loss of a pet.

Natalie Aranda writes about pets and family. It is equally challenging for a child to deal with the death of their pet. It can be a difficult time, but many children have their first understanding of life and death through their pets. To be sure that your children will be able to handle what can be a significantly trying time in their life, you should keep your pet?s memory alive even after they pass. Find a memorial pet urn to keep your cats remains in and a special dog urn to lovingly respect your pooch and let their memory live on forever. Doing so can greatly help your child deal with the loss of a pet.

Why Pet-keeping is Essential for Children's Healthy Development

As families decrease in size and we become increasingly urbanised the need to keep pets at home becomes more important for children's healthy development.

Most kids at stage will ask - no, nag - for a pet of some type. Gold fish, guinea pigs, pet mice and rabbits are generally on city-dwelling children's want lists for pets at some stage. The more conventional cats and dogs compete with more exotic species such as tortoises, snakes and parrots for kid's attention in the large animal stakes.

The lure of pets for kids was demonstrated some years ago at the height of the electronic pet phase. Kids across the world were glued to their handheld monitors feeding, walking and caring for their electronic pets.

As it turned out electronic pets were no substitute for the real things and the phase thankfully has passed.

Pets contribute in four ways to children's healthy development:

1. They teach children to take responsibility for something other themselves. Some pets are easier to care for than others but most have

to be cared for, protected and fed on a regular basis. It is the

regularity of caring for pets that is the greatest lesson for kids.

Parents may give children chores and it may not matter much to children

if they are not done. But the consequences of not caring for a pet are

generally very real for children. Fail to feed a small animal and it may

die. Forget to close the cage on the chicken pen and the dog may have an

unexpected feast. These are real responsibilities that teach real life

lessons to kids.

2. It is inevitable that at some stage pets will die. It is tough but

that is life. Animals teach kids about the cycle of life. Dogs moult,

lizards shed their skins and the call of the wild is just too great for

some species in spring. The nature's cycles become real when you have

pets

3. Pets teach kids to be empathetic. When children care for their pets

they become protective and look out for their welfare. They empathise

with their pets if they are cold, hungry or it is stormy outside. Kids

will often want the dog to sleep inside when it is cold or the cat to

come in from the rain. They often blur the line between animal and human

but at least they are emphasising with their pets - and putting

themselves in their situation. My point - empathy is a brilliant life

skill. Empathetic kids never bully and empathetic adults are brilliant

to be around. They make great partners, workmates and bosses. These

characteristics need to be nurtured in childhood and owning pets can

allow for this.

4. Youngest and only child are usually surrounded in their families by

people who are bigger and more capable than them. The opportunity to

care for a pet puts them in control and allows them to care for

something just as their parents have cared for them.

The type of pets that kids have will depend on their age, your

circumstances and their wants. From my own experience it is necessary to

instil in kids the responsibility that comes with pet ownership. Kids

will often see an animal in a pet store or at a friend's house and

immediately want it. It's a parent's job to remind children that pets

are for LIFE (of the animal) and that the fun of having a pet is

balanced by the responsibility of looking after it.

Pet ownership is a two -edged sword. But so is life. That's why kids

should keep pets.

Michael Grose is a popular parenting educator and parent coach. He is the director of Parent Coaching Australia, the author of six books for parents and a popular presenter who speaks to audiences in Australian Singapore and the USA. For free courses and resources to help you raise happy kids and resilient teenagers visit http://www.parentingideas.com.au

Why Pet-keeping is Essential for Children's Healthy Development

As families decrease in size and we become increasingly urbanised the need to keep pets at home becomes more important for children's healthy development.

Most kids at stage will ask - no, nag - for a pet of some type. Gold fish, guinea pigs, pet mice and rabbits are generally on city-dwelling children's want lists for pets at some stage. The more conventional cats and dogs compete with more exotic species such as tortoises, snakes and parrots for kid's attention in the large animal stakes.

The lure of pets for kids was demonstrated some years ago at the height of the electronic pet phase. Kids across the world were glued to their handheld monitors feeding, walking and caring for their electronic pets.

As it turned out electronic pets were no substitute for the real things and the phase thankfully has passed.

Pets contribute in four ways to children's healthy development:

1. They teach children to take responsibility for something other themselves. Some pets are easier to care for than others but most have

to be cared for, protected and fed on a regular basis. It is the

regularity of caring for pets that is the greatest lesson for kids.

Parents may give children chores and it may not matter much to children

if they are not done. But the consequences of not caring for a pet are

generally very real for children. Fail to feed a small animal and it may

die. Forget to close the cage on the chicken pen and the dog may have an

unexpected feast. These are real responsibilities that teach real life

lessons to kids.

2. It is inevitable that at some stage pets will die. It is tough but

that is life. Animals teach kids about the cycle of life. Dogs moult,

lizards shed their skins and the call of the wild is just too great for

some species in spring. The nature's cycles become real when you have

pets

3. Pets teach kids to be empathetic. When children care for their pets

they become protective and look out for their welfare. They empathise

with their pets if they are cold, hungry or it is stormy outside. Kids

will often want the dog to sleep inside when it is cold or the cat to

come in from the rain. They often blur the line between animal and human

but at least they are emphasising with their pets - and putting

themselves in their situation. My point - empathy is a brilliant life

skill. Empathetic kids never bully and empathetic adults are brilliant

to be around. They make great partners, workmates and bosses. These

characteristics need to be nurtured in childhood and owning pets can

allow for this.

4. Youngest and only child are usually surrounded in their families by

people who are bigger and more capable than them. The opportunity to

care for a pet puts them in control and allows them to care for

something just as their parents have cared for them.

The type of pets that kids have will depend on their age, your

circumstances and their wants. From my own experience it is necessary to

instil in kids the responsibility that comes with pet ownership. Kids

will often see an animal in a pet store or at a friend's house and

immediately want it. It's a parent's job to remind children that pets

are for LIFE (of the animal) and that the fun of having a pet is

balanced by the responsibility of looking after it.

Pet ownership is a two -edged sword. But so is life. That's why kids

should keep pets.

Michael Grose is a popular parenting educator and parent coach. He is the director of Parent Coaching Australia, the author of six books for parents and a popular presenter who speaks to audiences in Australian Singapore and the USA. For free courses and resources to help you raise happy kids and resilient teenagers visit http://www.parentingideas.com.au

The Essential Role of Pet Keeping for Children's Healthy Development

Whether you decide before or after you have children to bring a pet into your lives, it is important to consider the effects it will have on children's healthy development throughout their early years. The essential role of pet keeping for children's healthy development is a topic all too often overlooked. Children's healthy development depends on the way you introduce a pet and the care you give a pet while your kids are in the vital stages of development.

Before you choose a new pet to bring home to the family, there are many important factors in picking the right one! Deciding what type of animal you want is the first step. The best pets for families are typically cats and dogs; they have stable lives and can easily become a part of a family, aiding in children's healthy development. Most families will thrive more efficiently if they avoid choosing exotic pets such as spiders and snakes as they can become frightening for younger children, and the novelty often wears off.

When you bring home a new pet, you should always train them in obedience and respect. In doing so, children will development a sense of responsibility, even if they are not the ones directly responsible for the pet's care. You must enforce the rules that you set for your new pet so that children will develop a healthy yearning to guide their pet in the right direction. Pet's can be a great part of a family and bring new light and enjoyment to a home. Many children find that pet's are great companions long before they can realize what a friend truly is. Keeping a pet will not only teach your child respect and responsibility, but also what a loving and kind relationship is.

Many parents focus in on the way their children development from the day they are conceived. Whether you have a cat or a dog there are important things to focus on as well. Initially, many children may not be prepared for the arrival of a pet. It is equally challenging for a child to deal with the death of their pet. It can be a difficult time, but many children have their first understanding of life and death through their pets. To be sure that your children will be able to handle what can be a significantly trying time in their life, you should keep your pet's memory alive even after they pass. Find a memorial pet urn to keep your cats remains in and a special dog urn to lovingly respect your pooch and let their memory live on forever. Doing so can greatly help your child deal with the loss of a pet.

Natalie Aranda writes about pets and family. It is equally challenging for a child to deal with the death of their pet. It can be a difficult time, but many children have their first understanding of life and death through their pets. To be sure that your children will be able to handle what can be a significantly trying time in their life, you should keep your pet?s memory alive even after they pass. Find a memorial pet urn to keep your cats remains in and a special dog urn to lovingly respect your pooch and let their memory live on forever. Doing so can greatly help your child deal with the loss of a pet.