Should You Get a Family Pet

If you had a family pet when you were growing up, then you already know how important they can be. Spending your early years with animals around you can be incredibly beneficial, and they can teach you just as much as you teach them. While there are always going to be stresses and responsibilities to owning a pet, the number of benefits might far outweigh the potential hassles. If you’re currently living in a pet-free family home and you’re considering making a change, here are the main considerations to factor into your decision. While not every family setup is ideal for a pet, they can be vital for those that want to make a house a home.

Teaching Responsibility

When you let your children take more of a role in the care of a pet, you instill a deeper sense of responsibility. Make sure that you assign duties to pet care that are age-appropriate, and you’ll be teaching your children the importance of consistency when it comes to their responsibilities. While the ultimate responsibility for a pet will always be down to the adults in your home, let children accompany you to the vet or even let them phone up the heartandpaw.com center to make appointments for check-ups. Let your children know what it’s like to have a living creature that’s counting on them, and they will gain from that new level of maturity.

Teaching Empathy

Because animals have needs, they must be looked after with care and love. Their emotional and physical needs are something your children will recognize, and they will respond naturally. They will play with them but they will also develop an in-built understanding of when the pet needs some personal space. It’s important that you lead by example as a parent and as an animal owner. Treat your pets with the kindness and compassion that they deserve, and your children will follow your lead. This can teach them a lot about the need to empathize with others, which is a valuable skill to instil early on in life.

Health Benefits

There is an almost endless list of health benefits that having a family pet can bring. The right pet choice can have dramatic effects. Children that are vulnerable to asthma can find that having a pet reduces the development of that condition. From health benefits like lower stress levels, more physical activity (those pets won’t walk themselves!) and even lower blood pressure, having a pet in the family home is proven to be incredible for both physical and mental health. Don’t underestimate the health benefits of a pet, and remember that the right pet can even be a huge boost to a child’s self-esteem as well. That’s because pets are always there for you, never criticize you and are great listeners!

If you didn’t grow up in a house with pets, then you might not fully appreciate the value that they bring into a living space. However, they are a responsibility and they do need care and attention. If you have space in your life and in your heart to introduce a new family member into your home, it could be a decision that you will never regret.