Gables Montessori Blog

PETS AT HOME?

Children love animals and always want to have them at home for companion or pleasure as pets. What is really a pet? It is not just an animal, in most of the cases it is considered as an additional member of the family, something that has a privileged status and rights to be respected. The difference between animals and pets is the bond, the affection. Having a domesticated animal at home is a huge decision that requires analysis and consensus and also is a step that needs organization, logistics and rules for the whole family. For children it is undoubtedly a positive experience, an animal can provide a valuable life experience as well as helping them to develop a sense of responsibility.

If you are thinking about having a pet at home, maybe you should read carefully some tips or recommendations as follows:

  • Make a careful selection of a pet that is suitable for your family circumstances and the size of your house. First, consider it if you have the space, time and money to care for it properly. And second, analyze which is appropriate for your child’s health, age and developmental stage.
  • Teach your child how to play safely with his pets, to avoid dangerous situations. Kids must be trained in how to respond to danger signs and also to not to disturb the animal when it is eating or sick.
  • After all contact with pets and other animals children must wash their hands to avoid infections. And if the animal is sick the best decision is to keep it isolated but cared, the priority is the family´s
  • Be careful letting your child choose pets as reptiles, mice, spiders and others, many of them are not suitable for households. Remember, a pet is a domesticated animal. Also there are certain breeds of dogs that can be dangerous and need extra control and supervision.
  • If you have doubts ask for advice from professionals. Get a healthy and happy pet, from a reputable source. Make sure that vaccine records are in order.
  • Always keep direct supervision of the contact between young children and pets, remember that animals act by basic instinct. Although many parents think it is normal, it is not adequate that humans and animals share the room at night.
  • Size is not a guarantee. Maybe you think that if you choose a puppy as a pet it will be easier to take care of it but small animals can be fragile, hard to train and require time.
  • Each animal has features to consider, cats are more mobile than dogs but less sociable, rabbits do not always enjoy being picked up and cuddled and hamsters are nocturnal so they will be very active in their cages at night. Maybe you can ask friends and other parents about their pets to get more information.

There are many considerations about having a little animal in the house, but in the other hand, there are many rewards: pets are a source of unconditional love, comfort, support and relax, especially for only sons they can be an excellent companionship. A pet can teach a kid to be independent, responsible and reliable. Animals in general can be therapeutic for everybody.

Read more