What kind of animal for a child?
Every child dreams of a pet. He starts his dreams with a hamster. Then he wants a cat and a dog. It ends up wanting them all at once. On the one hand, there is nothing wrong with that, because a pet teaches empathy, responsibility, and develops the child's social skills. On the other hand, the animal is not a toy and is not bought for a moment for a child. Such a decision is the acceptance of another family member.
Fluffy and cute animals turn out to be children's best friends. The children themselves are too young to understand that the animal is not a toy after all, but a living creature that feels, a creature that may have a bad day, that may also feel pain and have needs. It is the parents who accept the pet at home and take full responsibility for its life and the need for constant care. So if a child wants a pet, the parents first need to consider whether they are ready for it and whether they will be able to cope - both financially and temporarily - with co-responsibility for the new creation in the home. Only after such decisions can it be considered which animal for a child, at a certain age, will be the most suitable.
An animal for a child: what to consider?
The right animal for your baby depends on several factors. The first important criterion is mentioned the age of the child. Parents, as guardians, responsible for the safety (of children and animals), should, however, first of all take into account degree of development your child. Sometimes a few-year-old children are able to take care of a pet, otherwise, for example, for a 4-year-old, fish will be a safer option. The next criteria are possible obstacles that may arise in the care of the animal. Home conditions are an important factor here. When considering what kind of pet we can buy or adopt, it is important to consider space available in the house or apartmentas well as what they are everyday habits and conditions of functioning: for example, does the family like to be warm or rather cold-loving? It is also important to answer the question do the household members have time to spend on walking, feeding and playing?. It is also necessary to remember Fr. allergies! In fact, this is the most important factor in having any pet. An allergy to dog, cat or rabbit hair can significantly limit your choices. Only analyzing all these dependencies will allow you to consider what kind of pet will be appropriate in a specific home, alongside a specific family.
Which animal should I choose for my child?
The most popular pets are without a doubt dog and cat. They are creatures that can be contacted. And it is likely that one of them the child will ask for. For a busy young child, a dog would be a great companion. Shy children would probably be more likely to "get along" with cats, which are less expansive by nature, but their presence can greatly influence the well-being of a child.
Expert advises
When deciding on a dog or cat, remember that caring for them is very demanding. In addition, it is associated with a longer time, which will be subordinate to the animal - 10-20 years. During this period, the task of the family will be to take care of his health - including the required vaccinations, deworming and protection against parasites. Much of this responsibility rests with the adults, caregivers, and parents, not with the children.
Smaller pets: a hamster, a parrot or maybe a fish?
In the case of the youngest children, it will be a more appropriate choice small rodent: hamster, mouse, guinea pig. Caring for it does not require specialist knowledge. It is enough to buy a cage and stock up on good quality food. Such an animal for a child is a good solution, also when we cannot spend a lot of time caring for the pet ourselves. However, it is important to remember that these animals can sometimes bite. Another solution are birds - canary, parrot. There are many species to choose from, and caring for them is also not too demanding. In this situation, a sufficiently large cage and good-quality food are needed, as well as care for their health, as in all cases. Or maybe fish? This is a very good idea - especially when the child has a problem with concentration, is hyperactive and needs silence. Observation of the underwater world perfectly calms the child and helps to focus. Caring for fish is not complicated, under the parent's supervision, the child can successfully participate in cleaning the aquarium. The technical side remains a separate issue - you need space, regular water changes and caring for the ecosystem.
Pet: joy and responsibility
Growing up with an animal undoubtedly has a positive effect on the development of a child who, thanks to the daily care of a pet, learns responsibility, opens up its empathy and develops sensitivity. In addition, daily observation of animals can also be a lot of fun. It should be remembered, however, that adults are responsible for children and pets in the home. Therefore, the choice of a pet must be carefully considered - so that no one gets hurt.
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Psychologist, pedagogue and specialist in psycho-oncology, Department of Oncology and Oncological Surgery for Children and Adolescents, Institute of Mother and Child
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