Top 10 Pets for kids: The benefits of living with a companion animal
Dr Jo Righetti, animal behaviourist, helps people understand pets and communicates her knowledge on the human-animal relationship. Kids and pets often have a very special relationship with many benefits…
Kids and Pets go together! Most of us have grown up with pets and can’t imagine life without them: The cat that slept on our beds; the dog that waited patiently at the gate until we got home from school. And now some of us have kids whose pets do just the same thing!
Children and pets have a special relationship. While the pet is often entertained by having a child around there are also many benefits for the children in having a pet in their home:
- Children develop a respect for animals when they live alongside them and this helps prepare them for later life. The child learns about the responsibilities in caring for another living creature – even if they don’t always follow through with their tasks!
- Children with pets are popular with their peers. The antics of a pet can make good topics of conversation, good school news items and children even learn to read body language from watching their pets. Children can learn to read by reading out loud to their dog.
- Children interact more with other members of the family when there is a pet in the house. More than half of families with young children undertake physical activity as a family at least once a week by walking their dog.
- Pets can help balance the increasing presence of technology. A pet is a good reason to turn off the computer or video game and have a play or a cuddle. Most children report enjoying playing outdoors with their pets. In fact, it’s second only to playing with friends in the entertainment stakes.
- Pets provide unconditional love. Pets hold a special status in children’s lives with 95% of children nominating pets among their ten most important relationships.
View Comments (15)
We have 2 Inland Bearded Dragons, and as long as you don't mind a few escaped crickets roaming the house (escapees whilst feeding) have found them to be excellent pets for the kids...
I used to have rats! They were the best ever! I had them in the same cage and they were excellent together, so i don't understand why you said not too..
Rats have been know to kill and/or eat mice!
She is right about that sometimes male mice or rats will eat their own babies.
I previously owned mice. You can make a good profit from them having babies because they reproduce fairly quickly. Excellent pets Ive never been bitten though. Their cage gets dirty really fast so you clean the cage quite often but other than that they are excellent.
i have buggies they are good pets but they also get boring. i am currently in the process of getting a cat.
We have guinea pigs, rabbits, dogs and aquarium which all perfect buddies and learning pets for all children here. The turtle actually is their favorite.
Glad to hear that turtles are making good pets.
I would add Maine Coon cats as being great pets for kids after having owned one for two years. Our Leo is beautifully natured and let our 9yr old carry him around in his arms like a baby! Couldn't ask for a better pet!
I can highly recommend Boxer dogs as pets for children.
They are playful, energetic & very tolerant with kids !
I used to have a Dalmatian - very similar energy level. Not for young children but great with older, energetic ones!
Without a doubt Cavoodle's (a cross breed between a cavalier and a minature poodle) have gone in as my number one family pet recommendation. A gentler dog I have not met. All the love of a cavalier with less of the heart disease (hopefully).
The problem with Cavalier x Poodles is that you're more likely dealing with poor breeding practices and zero ethics so if the Cavalier used for breeding isn't heart cleared for MVD (and they usually aren't!), and not tested for Hip Displasia.. or the poodle isn't tested for PRA (degenerative eye disease).. you increase your chances of getting a puppy with even MORE health problems than an ethically bred, registered predigreed puppy of either breed.
Rescue dogs are the best pes anyone could ask for. They are sweet, well mannered and are people dogs, always impressing! If your going to buy a dog find your local shelter or rescue centre because these dogs need homes and are usually wormed, microchipped, behaviour check and so on so forth. Pleas, please look at these dogs before you buy a pet shop pet, go for the better option!
Excellent list but if you are going for pets that can come from a shelter, try to get one from there and help save lives.