For almost as long as I can remember, I’ve shared my life with pets; they truly are some of nature’s most wonderful companions. Cats, dogs, bunnies, birds, rodents and reptiles are just some of the species that I spent my formative years with. And I loved horse riding too! Growing up with pets really is the best.
Squiggle and I love our pets dearly and they are very important members of our family (and she sees them as her best friends). I honestly believe that pets and people offer each other the opportunity to find our best selves. Studies have shown that these positive feelings about growing up with pets aren’t just anecdotal though, there are actually some pawsome (hehe) developmental and learning based pros…
Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is the ability to recognise, understand, assist and work with the emotions of others. Having a pet in the home helps children to understand that sometimes caring for others’ needs ahead of our own wants is a necessity. This maturity helps kids to recognise this in other animals and people as they grow.Â
Companionship
Sometimes, childhood can be lonely. It takes time to learn how to bond with people (especially if you have special needs) and your friends aren’t always available when you need or want them. Children with pets are generally considered happier and this is because they turn to their animal companions for comfort as much (sometimes more) than their human ones.Â
Communication Skills
Kids love to talk to the animals in their lives, I suspect most adults do too; I know I do. The act of talking to a pet helps both young children and those who struggle to communicate to develop essential verbal, social and emotional recognition skills. In fact, the act of communicating and interacting like this even goes so far as building your child’s natural affinity for empathy.
Therapy
Pet therapy works incredibly well with stress and a variety of mental health conditions. Equally, it is especially efficient for helping those with ASD and ADD regulate emotions and cope with intense situations. Having a household or garden animal means that those who need it have a consistent place to relax, focus and process through the things they’re struggling with.
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Allergies
Interestingly, growing up in a household alongside a pet typically results in a much lower chance of developing allergies. It is really quite bizarre as we’re not just talking animal allergies but statistically speaking we’re talking allergies in general; including but not limited to food. Of course, genetics play a part, so nothing is guaranteed, but scientific studies have identified a clear association between those who were raised with animals and those not.  Â
Learning
A child learning to read is more likely to feel comfortable reading to their animals than they are a sibling, friend and most adults. A lot of this comes from them being able to try and fail in safety. Similarly, when processing new information; children with a close bond with their pets are more likely to talk things through with them to help put newfound knowledge into context.
Raising an animal companion is a huge responsibility, and it takes some time to become the best owner you can be. However, pets also bring a lot to the table. In return for your care, they give you unconditional love, affection, and loyalty. They’re always happy to see you too (one thing even your closest family and friends can’t be all the time), which is a huge mood and confidence booster.Â
Because of the pandemic and social isolation, many people have recently adopted puppies and other pet animals for companionship. Dogs are excellent pets, but they also take a lot of work. If you got a new puppy, check out this ultimate dog care guide to better prepare yourself for your new responsibilities as a dog owner.
Do your kids have a pet? What benefits have you noticed?
You might also like: How to look after a cat properly
*This is a collaborative post
As a child, I gathered all the dogs on the streets of Romania and put them in the house. Unfortunately, my family does not accept the idea of a child sleeping surrounded by animals, so the next day I found them on the street.
My child grew up with a cat in his arms and a dog on his feet. I now have two dogs with me in Scotland. I still have four cats at home in Romania.
Great article!
Another great post. I grew up with animals and ever since I left home, I’ve had cats. We now have chickens too. To me, a home is not a home without our furbabies.
Sadly i dont due to allergies – really miss them too
I always had pets growing up and now so has Erin. I think it’s really important if you can do it.
We have a dog and 2 kittens. They are great additions to the family for so many reasons. It’s nice to see the children being so thoughtful and caring towards them x
I love cats! We had 4 but sadly two of them passed away, one 2 months ago and one two weeks ago. They were both 17 and I miss those two a lot. We still have an 18 year old cat and a 5 year old cat. I love their company. We also have a dog, not gonna lie, he is hard work and very energetic, but a character. Pets are awesome. The kids have grown up with the pets and it teaches them responsibility and unconditional love.
What a beautiful words, Katie. I can tell you that I feel the same about most of topics mentioned here. I have a pet cat which is also the boss in the house lol, and I can`t even know how to describe the benefits that having a pet has brought to my home. It’s true that it can help children development in some many ways. Loved this post.