Photo by Leo Rivas on Unsplash
Pets may commonly be associated with companionship and playtime. But they also have a positive impact on child development and overall health.
In discussions of childhood milestones, a common event parents often miss to treasure is the time their children ask for a friendly companion. Most children undergo a similar phase of asking (some may even throw tantrums) for pets. Whether they’re influenced by the videos they pass the time with or see their friends have pets, children may most likely ask for one in their earlier years.
Asking for pets may be a shared request by children. But what’s not shared are the parents’ responses to it. Their opinions are unsurprisingly divided into two. On one end, parents will be ecstatic to grant this wish. On the other, they will be hesitant, which will ultimately lead to a firm no. Numerous reasons, such as space, budget, and other resources, can lead to the latter.
When it comes to giving in and saying “yes,” parents commonly think of pets as companions or a source of entertainment. But is this truly everything there is to pet ownership?
Pets as Companion Animals
There are seemingly endless heaps of children’s books in the market, more than half of which narrate the story of children and animals. From indie books like Bing by Sarah Gourd to the popularized Winnie the Pooh, the bond between animals and children transcends reality to reach the literary realm. While literature depicts animals in a more magical light, the meaningful relationship they share with children doesn’t veer far from reality.
Whether for their adorable nature or the value in their company, pets have gradually become essential members of most families. This comes with no question because, unlike toys, pets can interact and engage with children. This is why, despite the budgeting and responsibility that go with them, most parents would still prefer giving their children pets to toys.
Pets are unlike any other companion children would have in their earlier years.
While children will have friends that help mold and develop their social skills, pets serve as constants that will be there throughout their transformative years. They accompany children through ups and downs. This is why there is apparent value in their presence and a sense of comfort and fun in their existence. Regardless of whether children have yet to make conscious and deliberate connections, they will understand what love is through their pets’ company.
Pets’ Impact on Child Development
Aside from the affection they provide, pets’ impact on child development is among the insurmountable influences on their lives. As a crucial period, children require much attention and provision during child development. This should come with a non-judgmental and aggressive reaction to their behavior – a gentle companion. This is precisely the type of relationship pet ownership provides.
Social Skills
Among the many skills children are expected to develop throughout these years, social relationships are among the most essential. During these ages, they will be plunged into more social settings, requiring them to interconnect with others and shape their future as adults.
While pets may provide emotional support and companionship to children, they would also require love and care. Children who are exposed to and are asked to care for animals showcase a variety of positive attributes they not only learn to display to their pets but also to people around them. This is why pets have such a significant impact on child development. They serve as benchmarks that help children establish boundaries, empathy, and connection.
Social relationships are fundamental to child development, and pet ownership is a primary contributor. Pets’ impact on child development, particularly social relationships, revolves around forming healthy attachments through reciprocity and boundaries.
Emotional Regulation
Another example of pets’ impact on child development is improving mental health. Multiple studies have posited that pet ownership not only makes children happier but may also correlate with lower anxiety rates. Pets help regulate irritability and stress, even in children. Stress management is consequential in children, and it has an impact on child development that pet ownership can provide.
How children interact with pets massively plays a role in stress management, primarily because the comfort pets offer helps release any tension building up. This can be achieved through their playtime, the connection they have, and the emotional anchor they provide during dire times. Pet ownership can also help children self-soothe and cope better with stress.
Communication Skills
Any form of interaction provides a significant impact on child development. When children play and care for their pets, they aren’t only spending some quality time but also building space in their minds to think and communicate properly. While pets can’t verbally respond, their body language is enough to encourage children to form a language and develop communication skills.
Teaching pets tricks and proper responses is the perfect opportunity for children to practice meaningful and accurate communication. Hence, the longer they’re exposed to their pets, the more significant their impact on child development is. Children don’t only form positive bonds with their pets. They can also develop confidence in their communication skills, which will reflect in the way they interact socially.
Pets have a consequential impact on child development. This is a significant contribution that parents commonly miss to consider when their children begin asking for a furry companion. Pets not only teach children how to be affectionate. But they also nurture dependability and responsibility.