How Keeping a Pet Teaches Children Values

Teaching children values such as respect, manners and hard work are elements that can last a lifetime and also help a child develop into a well rounded and successful adult. Keeping a pet in particular, allows parents to teach the importance of responsibility to their offspring. Introducing a dog or cat to the family is an aspect that everyone can enjoy proving learning morals and values can be fun as well as educational.

Small animals in particular make great starter pets. Rabbits and hamsters are not only easy to hold and pick up but are great with kids if introduced to them from an early age. Getting kids to take on the role of feeding or cleaning out the rabbit hutch or hamster cage is an ideal way to teach responsibility. Explaining to the child that the pet relies on the them to put in fresh bedding or water allows the child to understand that he or she is responsible for the pet's welfare and happiness. Paralleling the child's role to the pet as similar to that of a parent is a good way to encourage caring and nurturing behaviour between child and pet.

Larger pets such as dogs are an ideal way for parents to encourage good time keeping amongst youngsters. Older children, say from the age of 12 and up, can be encouraged to take the dog for a walk at a certain time everyday. While having a set occurrence in their day allows youngsters to develop their time keeping skills around this element of their day, it's also a great way for younger children to get used to a daily routine. If each morning involves going for a walk with a parent and the dog, the child can knows what to expect from that part of their day. Following a daily routine has been shown to help children relax and remain more focused later on in life.

Finally, owning a pet is another means to teach the value of organisation. Getting your child to take note of when pet supplies such as sawdust, kibble and treats are needed to be bought in shows your child is learning not only be responsible for the pet but also organising the upkeep of its welfare. Teaching a child organisation from a early age is important for a manageable and maintained adult life that will see your youngster meet deadlines on time, keep on top of their finances and arrange vital and important documents such as life insurance later on in life.

Harvey McEwan writes about the family and social issues.

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.

Keeping Children, Cats, and Dogs Safe While Living Together

Pets can complete a family. They bring companionship, joy, and stress relief. Pets offer an opportunity to teach children the responsibility of caring for another living thing. A pet can also have a therapeutic effect for children coping with difficulties.

Parents have the ultimate responsibility when deciding to add a pet to the family. Many different kinds of animals are available as pets suitable for children. Cats and dogs are among the most popular family pets. Safety for both the animal and the children has to be a top priority.

Families choosing a cat or dog as a pet usually are attracted to breeds that are characteristically good with families and tolerant of children. It is important for parents to remember that all pets, no matter how easy going the breed, will bite or scratch if provoked enough. Parents must put in place safety measures for the benefit of both the pet and the child.

Babies, toddlers and preschoolers have to be supervised constantly with pets. Children of this age are extremely impulsive and do not understand the consequences to their actions. They pull hair, ears and tails; poke eyes, noses and mouths; and step or jump on legs, tails and bodies. Even the most docile animal who has put up with this treatment before could suddenly bite. Expecting an animal to tolerate this treatment is cruel and abusive.

With children under 5, focus on teaching the child gentle touching.

o Show children how to pet the cat or dog from the neck to the back and stop at the tail. It doesn't feel good for the animal's fur to be ruffed backwards. Also, don't allow the child to pet the tail since his hands could touch the anal area.

o Make a firm rule not to touch the animal's face. This will lessen the chance of the child poking the dog's eyes or the cat's nose.

o Do not allow the child to put her face close to the animal's face. Many animals don't like their space invaded. A dog can snap. A cat can scratch.

o Another rule you cannot waver from is not allowing a small child to pick up the cat or small dog. Hugs can easily turn into strangle holds and the pet may be dropped. Young children should only be allowed to hold a pet when they are sitting.

As children get older, they can be trusted with more independence when in the company of their pets. Even children in the lower elementary grades need to be monitored when playing with their pets. They like to include their cat or dog in their imaginative play and when recreating what they see on television. Children may like to play dress up or bad guy vs good guy shooting games.

Parents need to always take the responsibility for the pet and child's safety. More things to think about for children of all ages include:

o Never, ever allow a child to jump over an animal. The pet may move at the last minute and the child may jump on top of the animal causing serious injury.

o Teach children to allow their pet to get away. This is particularly true for cats. When you see your dog or cat getting up and moving away from your child and she keeps going over to her pet, intervene. This is the pet's message that he doesn't want to play. Also, do not allow your child to chase her pet when it's trying to get away. When an animal feels cornered it can attack.

o Plan ahead and provide your pet with an escape route and safe place to go. Do not allow your child to disturb your pet when in its safe place. For a dog it can be his doghouse or bed. For a cat it can be its cat tree or a back bedroom.

o When animals get older their bodies start getting achy and they can become more temperamental. Parents must protect the elderly pet by restricting access by children if the pet has become less tolerant.

If your cat or dog is not working out as an appropriate family pet, be responsible enough to find him a suitable home. Honestly evaluate whether your cat or dog likes living with the activity and attention of children. If not, find him a home with only adults. Also honestly evaluate whether your family's lifestyle or children's personalities are appropriate for a pet. If you are gone from home all of the time, or if your children are not respectful of your pet's needs, find your pet a more compatible home.

Karen is a mother to 3 children, ages 18, 16 and 6. She has fostered 20 children and still counting. Karen is a special education teacher and uses her talents to parent special needs and drug expoed children in foster care. She also runs a successful online home-based business. http://karenjmiller.info/

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.

Keeping Children, Cats, and Dogs Safe While Living Together

Pets can complete a family. They bring companionship, joy, and stress relief. Pets offer an opportunity to teach children the responsibility of caring for another living thing. A pet can also have a therapeutic effect for children coping with difficulties.

Parents have the ultimate responsibility when deciding to add a pet to the family. Many different kinds of animals are available as pets suitable for children. Cats and dogs are among the most popular family pets. Safety for both the animal and the children has to be a top priority.

Families choosing a cat or dog as a pet usually are attracted to breeds that are characteristically good with families and tolerant of children. It is important for parents to remember that all pets, no matter how easy going the breed, will bite or scratch if provoked enough. Parents must put in place safety measures for the benefit of both the pet and the child.

Babies, toddlers and preschoolers have to be supervised constantly with pets. Children of this age are extremely impulsive and do not understand the consequences to their actions. They pull hair, ears and tails; poke eyes, noses and mouths; and step or jump on legs, tails and bodies. Even the most docile animal who has put up with this treatment before could suddenly bite. Expecting an animal to tolerate this treatment is cruel and abusive.

With children under 5, focus on teaching the child gentle touching.

o Show children how to pet the cat or dog from the neck to the back and stop at the tail. It doesn't feel good for the animal's fur to be ruffed backwards. Also, don't allow the child to pet the tail since his hands could touch the anal area.

o Make a firm rule not to touch the animal's face. This will lessen the chance of the child poking the dog's eyes or the cat's nose.

o Do not allow the child to put her face close to the animal's face. Many animals don't like their space invaded. A dog can snap. A cat can scratch.

o Another rule you cannot waver from is not allowing a small child to pick up the cat or small dog. Hugs can easily turn into strangle holds and the pet may be dropped. Young children should only be allowed to hold a pet when they are sitting.

As children get older, they can be trusted with more independence when in the company of their pets. Even children in the lower elementary grades need to be monitored when playing with their pets. They like to include their cat or dog in their imaginative play and when recreating what they see on television. Children may like to play dress up or bad guy vs good guy shooting games.

Parents need to always take the responsibility for the pet and child's safety. More things to think about for children of all ages include:

o Never, ever allow a child to jump over an animal. The pet may move at the last minute and the child may jump on top of the animal causing serious injury.

o Teach children to allow their pet to get away. This is particularly true for cats. When you see your dog or cat getting up and moving away from your child and she keeps going over to her pet, intervene. This is the pet's message that he doesn't want to play. Also, do not allow your child to chase her pet when it's trying to get away. When an animal feels cornered it can attack.

o Plan ahead and provide your pet with an escape route and safe place to go. Do not allow your child to disturb your pet when in its safe place. For a dog it can be his doghouse or bed. For a cat it can be its cat tree or a back bedroom.

o When animals get older their bodies start getting achy and they can become more temperamental. Parents must protect the elderly pet by restricting access by children if the pet has become less tolerant.

If your cat or dog is not working out as an appropriate family pet, be responsible enough to find him a suitable home. Honestly evaluate whether your cat or dog likes living with the activity and attention of children. If not, find him a home with only adults. Also honestly evaluate whether your family's lifestyle or children's personalities are appropriate for a pet. If you are gone from home all of the time, or if your children are not respectful of your pet's needs, find your pet a more compatible home.

Karen is a mother to 3 children, ages 18, 16 and 6. She has fostered 20 children and still counting. Karen is a special education teacher and uses her talents to parent special needs and drug expoed children in foster care. She also runs a successful online home-based business. http://karenjmiller.info/