Most of us have never forgotten how we grew up with a family dog or cat. If you had the opportunity to grow with both, good for you. Studies show that more than 60 percent of households in America have pets. Dogs are the majority followed by cats. For the people who were lucky to live with pets, childhood was pretty awesome. Instead of staying indoors all day playing video games, you could play in the backyard, take a walk or cuddle with your furry friend.
Apart from the sweet memories, having a pet in the house has lots of advantages such as improved physical health and emotional development for kids. Several studies have pointed out the effects that an animal can have on children. However, don’t worry if your budget or physical health prevents you from adding a furry friend to the family.
There are lots of volunteer opportunities and programs that will give your kids a chance to interact and engage with animals and reap the benefits that having a companion at home would have. In most cases, both animals and kids benefit from each other in the long run. Here are seven benefits of raising a kid around at least one animal.
1. Responsibility
According to best essay writing services, responsibility is one of the best life lessons that you can teach your child. Responsible children usually achieve their goals in life easier because they know it’s up to them to do what’s required. On the other hand, irresponsible children blame their siblings, parents, teachers, and friends when they fail to achieve their goals.
Taking care of a living being will make your child more responsible than doing the dishes or laundry. With a pet, they have to feed, bathe, walk, and groom. If they fail to do these things, it will be entirely on them. With these activities, they might have to create a schedule to manage their time effectively.
2. Boosts immune system
Scientific studies have shown that children who live with their furry friends, especially dogs, during their first year had a stronger immune system than those who didn’t. They believe that exposing children to dogs may accelerate their growth and boost the immune system during the infant stage. Further, those who fell sick consumed fewer antibiotics compared to those who didn’t live with pets.
When it comes to allergies, children who were exposed to pets early enough were less likely to develop them. Children who had a dog after the first year had no added health advantages. Other studies have found that dogs reduce the chances of children getting eczema. Children with pet allergies who didn’t have one at home were four times more likely to develop skin conditions than those who didn’t.
3. Improved emotional intelligence
We all think about improving our children’s IQ. But have you ever thought about improving their emotional intelligence? As best assignment writing service reports, owning a dog allows children to develop and improve their emotional intelligence gradually. Caring for another life requires children to become more compassionate. At times, they’ll have other things that they want to do such as playing with friends or watching a movie. However, having to feed or walk them regularly will help them practice selflessness. Studies have shown that having pets and getting help with research papers is one of the best ways to help children become more caring and sensitive to other peoples’ needs and manage time effectively.
Caring for a pet also builds self-confidence. Accomplishing small daily tasks such as feeding and grooming helps them feel like they are competent to do much more. The CDC found that children with pets had lower stress and anxiety levels. They believe that children who own pets have higher levels of oxytocin, a hormone associated with happiness.
4. Play and regular exercise
Nowadays, the majority of children spend most of their time watching movies and playing video games indoors. While they are good forms of entertainment, it’s best to find new ways to get your kids off the couch and reduce screen time. Adopting a pet is one of the best ways for children to spend quality time outdoors and exercise. Ten minutes of exercise every day might not seem like a lot but it does add up to more than 60 hours per year. Owning a pet can help in combating obesity and heart disease.
5. Therapy
Raising a kid around a pet can help children’s mental conditions such as autism and ADHD grow and develop in a normal and natural way. Studies have shown that one in every forty-five children in America has been diagnosed with autism disorder. That’s almost two percent of the entire population of children between ages two and seventeen.
Nonprofit organizations such as Good Dog Companions have found that dogs have a great impact on the growth and development of children with autism. Some of the common benefits include a decline in meltdown, enhanced sense of security, a willingness to experiment with new things, enhanced social interactions due to an increase in vocabulary, and a willingness to face fearful situations.
As for ADD and ADHD, studies have found that approximately 6.4 million children have ADD or ADHD. This rate has been increasing by two percent almost every year. Some of the benefits of raising kids with ADD and ADHD around pets include the creation of routine and consistency, an energy outlet for hyperactivity cases, the ability to cope with depression and isolation, and effective stress management.
6. Lowers blood pressure
Studies have found that petting a pet for only fifteen minutes every day can reduce blood pressure by ten percent. Children who spend time with their furry friends release oxytocin, serotonin, prolactin, and cortisol which are responsible for lowering stress and promoting feelings of well-being.
7. Respect
When children live with pets from an early age, they learn to respect others. Since they’ll have consistent contact with their furry friends before they start interacting with other kids, they’ll understand what respect means.
Best pet for children
There are different types of pets that you can get for your child. It’s not easy to choose the perfect pet for your child. However, we hope that our list will help you determine which pet is best for you and your child:
Dog: Dogs are among the most common pets in many households. Many dog breeds are calm and friendly, especially with children. They are also great companions who’ll risk their lives for their loved ones. A dog needs to be fed, cleaned, and vaccinated regularly. He also needs to play or walk for a couple of minutes every day. With some assistance from their parents, little children can do all these things.
Cat: Cats are common pets for children. They are playful and have long lifespans. Unlike dogs, cats don’t need much maintenance. Cats usually do great when they are left alone. If your child is playful and energetic, a dog might be great for him or her.
Fish: Fish is ideal for small children because they require little attention and upkeep. Fish don’t take up too much space. Plus, they are usually quiet. If you don’t want your child to have too much work, this pet might be ideal for him or her.
Conclusion
There are many health benefits associated with raising kids around pets. The pet you choose to take home will be determined by your child’s personality and how willing you are to help. Choosing the appropriate pet for your child will lead to memorable and rewarding experiences.