Children can benefit from having a pet in your home

BRINGING an animal into your life can have enormous emotional and health benefits.

Besides a very close bond that builds up between pets and children, pets have been known to decrease high blood pressure, assist in the prevention of heart disease and combat depression. Those who truly love and care for their pet can reap the rewards of a loving, trusting and faithful companion.

Responsible pet ownership can assist children to develop their independence and set them on the path to becoming mature and dependable adults. Owning a pet can teach children numerous skills and have other benefits, including:

n Responsibility

By becoming a pet’s primary caregiver, children can learn the importance of responsibility at an early age. Pets that require more attention, like a cat or dog, can present an opportunity for a parent and child to bond with each other while enjoying the company of their pet. Teaching children how important it is to become responsible for an animal’s life can help them to understand the qualities of discipline, patience, kindness and attentiveness.

n Discipline

Walking the dog, feeding the guinea pig and talking to the parrot can serve as a fun replacement for television programmes, Play Stations, movies and videos. These pet-related activities help children to remain focused on the task at hand and enhanced concentration enables them to cut out distractions and allows more focused time for homework and chores.

n Life skills

Bringing a pet into the home as a part of your family can be an effective way of preparing your children for real life situations. Pets are able to ease the tension of a sudden change for a child. When mom and dad bring home their new bundle of joy, the older child will still have a great deal of undivided attention from the family pet. When children are exposed to routine veterinarian check-ups, it will help them deal with medical issues and illnesses better.

n Allergies and illnesses

If your child misses a lot of school due to illness, maybe you should get a cat. Research has shown that children who own pets attend school up to nine more days a year than their non-pet-owning classmates. The immune function of pet owners is more stable, making them better able to fend off illness. Cat hair is thought to be a common source of irritation to the immune system. However, a leading theory, still currently under investigation by asthma researchers, suggests that the presence of pets in the home, from an early age, may adapt the immune system so it is less sensitive to allergens later in life. Always consult your doctor first.

n Unconditional love

Children who live with pets show more empathy for others and help others more. This may be related to other findings that children who are raised with pets have a higher self-esteem. This is thought to result from the pet’s unconditional love. No matter what’s going on in school or with friends, pets always treat children the same way. Having a pet that shows unconditional love, regardless of what is happening in the home, can cushion other difficulties in a child’s life.

Pets play an important role in many children’s lives as they often talk to them and regard them as friends and confidantes. A five-year study of 600 children aged between three and 18-years-old showed that pet-owning children, who have challenges including slow learning skills or divorced parents, cope better with life than those who don’t have a pet.

For more information contact the Johannesburg SPCA 011 681 3600.