It's hard to imagine my home without any pets. One of the biggest reasons for that is seeing just how much it impacts my kids' lives. While my daughter could kind of take the animals or leave them (though she recently moved the beta fish into her bedroom), my almost 7-year-old son deeply loves animals — so much that he sleeps with our family dog every night.
But regardless of their own personal interest in pets, which of course varies from kid to kid, I truly believe that having a house with animals in it is good for them. Not only do they get the extra love and affection which our four pets — two guinea pigs, one fish, and one dog — bring, they also get to experience what it's like to help take care of something other than themselves.
Here's how pets can teach kids of just about any age important lessons in responsibility.
1. They have to remember to meet their pets' needs.
Whether it is feeding the fish, walking the dog, or giving the guinea pigs (Ginny the Guinea and Skitters) fresh hay, I don't do all the pet care in our home. The reason is not just because I'm lazy. It's because I want my kids to help out with their pets. My daughter and son have been (mostly) responsible for walking the dog since they were old enough to trek around the block by themselves. At first I forced the issue, but now it's become a habit, and a good one at that.
Over time, I've seen them both take more initiative with all the pets and need fewer reminders, too. Of course, I'm there to pick up the slack and help out. After all, I love our pets! But watching my kids grow more responsible and learn to care for their animals has been a really beautiful thing to see. The tasks aren't difficult, but they do allow them to look outside of their own needs in small ways to care for something else.
2. They experience being inconvenienced.
Having pets is not always fun times! Sometimes pets are messy and require cleanup duty. Sometimes you have to change your plans in order to take care of them. But those minor inconveniences are not all bad. They teach us that sometimes when it comes to caring for something or someone you love, you have to stop what you're doing so you can provide the proper care. Really, it's just showing love and compassion, but when you're a kid, it can be hard to always see it that way, especially if a task is cramping your style. Still, it's good to experience those minor annoyances from time to time to learn what it really means to be a responsible pet owner and, eventually, a responsible adult.
3. They learn about loss in a more gentle way.
Losing pets can be really tough, especially for the animal lovers of the world. I watched my son sob uncontrollably when his first hamster died, and I know, when our old dog goes, it's going to be so incredibly hard. Still, it's one of the hard lessons in life — that people and animals we love will eventually leave this world. Learning early in life, in a more gentle way, how to grieve those losses is so important. We learn that our hearts can repair themselves, even though it takes time. It also shows us how to care for our animals more fully when they're here.
4. They learn to practice patience.
Another important lesson in having animals in your home is patience. This is really true for people of all ages, honestly. I can't tell you how many times I've gotten frustrated with unruly pets! I'm still learning patience in many ways, and I'm thankful that my kids are learning it early. Pets don't always do exactly what you want them to do. And not only is yelling at them or being harsh cruel, it really doesn't help. We have to practice being patient over and over again with animals. Over time, kids will learn how much that really pays off when they see their pets developing better habits.
5. Pets teach them to act with caution.
Even if you have the friendliest pet in the world, sometimes pets scratch or bite. They are animals, after all. Kids with pets learn early on to respect nature, and that is so important. It teaches them to be more kind and caring humans. It also teaches them caution. For example, I love watching my son — who can't see a dog and not say, "Hi, doggy!" — always ask a dog parent first if he can pet their dog. It's such a great lesson for so many reasons. Mainly, so you don't get nipped. But it's also just a show of respect for the animal and their human parent.
6. Pets are great practice for having their own family.
Not everyone wants to have kids of their own. But in case your kids do want a family one day, having pets is pretty great practice. There is really no way to prepare for having kids, but being a pet parent is about as good as it gets. Not only do kids experience all the care that goes into looking after a pet, they also get to experience the warm and fuzzy feelings of "parenting." While real parenthood may be a long way off, those experiences can stick with kids for a lifetime.
7. Pets expand kids' horizons.
Every pet we have had in our home has been so different and unique. That means a lot of things. First, it means that we have to learn all about how to properly care for that unique pet! I mean, I was blown away by how different guinea pig care and hamster care is. Even if you have a pet of the same species, the care can look different. A dog with a ton of energy is going to require way more than a dog who lies on the couch all day. With every animal who has come into our home, I've watched my kids learn to appreciate that unique animal for exactly who they are and learn how to care for it. Those experiences simply provide so much growth, all achieved through being a pet parent. It's so beautiful to see.
