The Benefits of Adding a Pet to the Family

Learning responsibility

Pets provide a perfect opportunity for children of any age to start practicing and learning about responsibility. Whether it’s a 2-year-old filling up the cat’s food bowl with help from an adult or a 16- year-old taking the dog for their daily walk, specific responsibilities can be tailored to each age group.

Learning responsibility with a pet is a great incentive. As soon as you do something for an animal, you’re learning not only the responsibility of having to feed them and do all these things, but you’re also learning about cause and effect—you’re feeding them because that helps them thrive and keeps them healthy, just like your mom or dad feeds you to keep you healthy.

It’s essential to add the ‘why’ element to the conversation. Why do we feed our pets? Why do we help them get exercise? “Kids can never be too young to start learning that,” Scott says.

Companionship

When kids are experiencing increased feelings of loneliness, trying to fit in and figure out belonging, a pet can provide the perfect loyal companion to teach nonjudgmental support. Anytime a child helps care for an animal, they are fostering a level of attachment.

The element of companionship is significant. When kids can come home, and they’ve had a hard day, but there’s this nonjudgmental animal, whether it’s a dog or a cat or a different animal, we believe that a pet offers an opportunity for friendship and companionship that can help fill a gap for kids who may be facing various challenges. There’s no expectation beyond being loved and cared for. And that’s a relationship that’s so healthy for anyone to practice.

Emotional development

Along with supporting emotional regulation, a pet can help encourage emotional development through nurturing empathy and compassion. Having a pet in the house can teach kids how to read body language and other nonverbal cues from a young age, develop senses for reading others’ emotions, and learn how to respond. They can learn how to tell when a pet wants to be approached, the best way to interact with that pet, and how that approach might differ from animal to animal.

Developing these skills about pets can also help children navigate human relationships. The adult in the room is helping navigate that, but that’s teaching skills that are helping their emotional development in little ways because they might be learning skills that are helping them to engage with peers or siblings emotionally.

A pet can help with emotional regulation, too. Studies have shown that rhythmically petting your dog, cat, or animal can help lower stress and anxiety and regulate a person’s heart rate. If a kid feels overwhelmed, you can have them pet their animal companion slowly to help them regulate their emotions.

Additionally, having a pet can encourage kids to get outside, supporting emotional regulation and overall mental health. According to experts, exercise helps kids experience an increase in self-esteem and a decrease in anxiety and depression. Getting outside together can also support pet health by ensuring they maintain a healthy weight, ward off illness, and live longer.

Understanding loss and grief

The way that each child first engages with loss is different so that it might be a grandparent, but oftentimes it’s a pet; if that’s the case, I think that it’s a significant opportunity to teach kids about loss and grief because we know they will reencounter this later in their life. So, this provides an environment to prepare them using developmentally appropriate language.

Our best advice for talking with children about grief and loss is to be honest and use developmentally appropriate language.

For a two-year-old, this means sticking to simple talking points and being prepared to repeat them each time they ask. Avoid making up a story about the dog going away to a farm or that they went to sleep. This can look like, “[Pet’s name] was very old and got sick, and his body stopped working. He can’t run or play with us anymore. He can’t be here to eat meals with us.” They might ask you the same questions every day about where the pet went, and you can respond with your simple talking point and let them feel whatever emotions come to the surface. While we acknowledge this can be hard, it can set the child up for success in handling grief in the future.

You can use similar language for an older child but be prepared for them to understand more about the situation. They might have additional questions about what happened to their pet.

An adolescent they’re very aware of what death is; invite them to have some involvement depending on their comfort level and their level of attachment to the animal, then be prepared for more questions. Emotions are OK, and you, as a caregiver, don’t need to hide your feelings either because it’s healthy for a teenager to see that you are also really sad.

If your child wants to become more involved, you can discuss different ways to remember or honor the pet as a family.

When is the right time to add a pet to the family?

This is a personal decision that will vary from family to family. Some families introduce a pet once children are older and can take on more responsibility, while others opt to add a new family member when kids are younger. The key is to gauge the adult’s capacity to care for the animal, depending on what phase of life you are in and the cost of caring for your pet of choice.

Some families who already have a pet might choose to add a second animal as their first pet ages. Other families choose to create space and time after a pet’s death before adding another animal. There is no correct answer; the best decision depends on your family’s unique situation.

What kind of pet is right for your family?

The answer to this question also depends on a few considerations. First, gauge the time your family can spend with a new pet, especially the caregivers. Are you getting a dog that requires daily walks, playtime, and meals, or are you ready for a goldfish that only needs feeding and occasional tank water changes?

You want to add an animal that fits your family’s lifestyle. For example, many rescue organizations can assist with matching a family with a dog that suits what they’re looking for in a pet, considering the temperament of different breeds, exercise requirements, and space available in your home.

Also, keep in mind that your child could have allergies that you aren’t yet aware of, so it may be a good idea to expose them to animals early, whether through pet sitting, visiting with the pets of friends and family, petting zoos, or other interactions with animals in public.

Pet safety

Pet safety should be at the forefront of kids’ minds when teaching them how to own and care for animals. First and foremost, kids should learn how to approach animals safely and respectfully. With Anderson’s Human and our team, we can help teach patients what to do when approaching a new animal.

Another way to keep kids safe when interacting with animals is to make sure they’re practicing hand hygiene. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children under five should avoid contact with reptiles, amphibians, rodents, and poultry, such as chicks or ducks. That’s because young children are more likely to get sick from these animals’ germs, so avoiding contact is the best way to prevent illness. Additionally, kids in this age range are more likely to experiment with putting things in their mouths, which increases the risk of them coming into contact with animal feces or other germs. To avoid these mistakes, always supervise your children around animals.

Preparation is key

Preparation is key if you are considering adding a new pet to the family. Ensure your living space is set up with the supplies you will need before bringing your new addition home, including food, bowl, leash, collar, crate or carrier, toys, treats, and other products to engage with your pet actively. This also includes setting aside time in your new schedule to care for your new pet or focus on needed training, such as potty training for dogs. If your family is bringing home a new baby, the experts at Anderson’s Human have tips for introducing your pet to your new bundle of joy.