Rescue a Dog! - Do It For Your Kid's Sake!
How Kids Benefit by Having Pets
By Mariangie
Gonzalez
Your own joy of having a pet is
doubled when you see the added interaction of your children and
their dogs. But your child benefits immensely in other ways from this social
contract.
1. Social skills and self-esteem.
Feelings and positive experiences with their pet can help children
feel good about their own. Loving a pet can also help kids to love
and trust other people.
2. Exercise. All pets need to
exercise, and playing with their pet is a fun way to incorporate
some physical activity to your kid’s lifestyle.
3. Responsibility and respect. To
learn how to take care of their pet can help kids develop empathy,
concern and responsibility towards other beings. On top of that,
during the life cycle of the pet, parents have the opportunity to
talk to their kids about birth, sickness and death.
4. Parent interaction. Kids and
their parents can spend more time together playing and taking care
of their pet.
How can my child help take care
of the pet?
1. A small child can help out by
feeding or providing fresh water to their pet (portions must be
measured by you).
2. The child can help walking the
pet, not alone of course, but just another time to spend together
with your kid.
3. Children can help you in bathing
and grooming the pet.
4. Assign to your child small,
simple tasks that can be performed under your supervision.
How can I keep my child healthy
and safe around a pet?
1. Choose your pets wisely, if you
don’t already own a pet, study and learn from the different breeds
and species, you will find that some are specially “kid friendly”.
2. Consider any allergies a family
member could have, before acquiring a pet. Consult with your kid’s
pediatrician about any allergies that may be present.
3. Take your pet to the veterinary
to a general check up before you bring it home.
* Always supervise interaction
between pets and kids.
* Teach your child not to touch any
pet, unless you say it’s OK to do so.
* Never leave pets and kids
unattended. Kids tend to play rough and that could provoke an attack
or harm a small pet.
* Make sure your child stays away
while the pet is eating, sleeping or taking care of its own
offspring.
* Teach your child to keep a good
hygiene, not to touch the pet droppings and wash his hands after
playing with the pet.
* Treat immediately any scratch or
bite caused by a pet. Consult with your child’s pediatrician if the
scratch or bite tears your child’s skin.
Mariangie Gonzalez has a major in
Animal Science and Pre-Veterinary and runs the day-to-day operations
of her home-based business and website in which you can learn how
homeopathic remedies could prolong and improve your pet’s life. She
can also help you start your own home-based 100% natural pet
supplies business, you can visit online at:
http://www.MindBodyAndPaw.com
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