The Right Time For Your Child To Get A Pet: 5 Questions To Ask
At some point in your child's ask, he will turn his chubby face up to you and ask, Can I have a pet? What are five questions you need to ask before taking this huge step?
From the moment they can speak, children will inevitably turn to their parents and ask, “Can I have a dog/cat/rabbit/bird?” Deciding to add a pet to an already-established family unit is a major decision. Unless you plan on adding a mosquito with a lifespan of a day to your family, you and other family members will need to commit anywhere from a year to twenty or thirty years to this new living addition. When is the right time for your child to get a pet? Here are five questions you may need to ask yourself before taking the next big step.
How old is my child?
Although the answer to this question is very easy, it also limits/expands your pet possibilities. For example, if your child is three years old and is starting to beg for a pet, any pet, this might rule out a lot of smaller rodents, like gerbils, hamsters and mice which could be easily dropped or squeezed too roughly by chubby two year-old hands. On the other hand, a three year old may not yet be responsible enough to care for a cat or dog. You will need to judge your own child’s maturity level to determine what type of animal he is capable of handling.
How has your child previously interacted with pets of friends or relatives?
Has he chased after poor Aunt Gertrude’s rabbit, picking it up mercilessly by the ears?
Perhaps he has swung the neighbor’s cat around by the tail?
Or maybe your child is a gentle soul, softly stroking his grandmother’s cat while talking to him?
There is no doubt that your child will interact with your own pet the way he has interacted with other people’s pets. Many pets, especially certain breeds of dogs and some cats, will bite, bark or claw if they are being handled too much. So, if you happen to have a child that swings pets around, a fish in a bowl might be the perfect solution.
How will my child be able to help in the pet’s care?
If your child is still quite young, he may be unable to help you with feeding and providing water to a dog or cat, or changing the hutch lining for a pet rabbit. If, in fact, it is your child who is begging for a pet, determine how easy it would be for your child to help care for the pet. You do not want to shoulder all the responsibility of an animal that your children desired but are unable to care for. Give your child/children specific duties in the care of the new pet, like feeding the new pet or taking it out on a walk. Having your child help with the tasks of providing and caring for a pet will teach him responsibility and will help him feel as if he has accomplished something.
One question you may want to ask of yourself is, if the children begin shirking their responsibilities, would you be willing to take over in the pet’s care?
Granted, we all want to believe that our children will fulfill their promises and provide excellent care for their new pet, but reality tells us that not all children will actually follow through. One reason you may want to ask yourself this is for the mere fact that hundreds of thousands of animals get sent to animal shelters and pounds every year due to families being unable to provide and care for them. This is not a statistic you will want to add to. All members of the family should be willing to handle the responsibilities of providing for the new pet.
What type of pet would work best with your children?
If you have an older child who is outdoorsy and likes to run or hike, a dog may be the perfect fit as a furry companion. If your child is more of an indoors character, they might like a cat or hamster. Be sure to pick an animal that would coexist nicely with your family.
Author: Tammy Vela
About Author: Tammy Vela has a degree in English from Texas A&M University.