| Pets can be an important part of a | | | | and one of the best catalysts for this |
| child's life. A child learns a lot from | | | | lesson is by teaching your pet tricks. |
| having an animal to care for. Just take | | | | Note that not all pets are conducive to |
| a look at some of the lessons a child | | | | this lesson. |
| (or adult) picks up. Responsibility - | | | | Playing - It's difficult to imagine that |
| This is one of the first lessons that | | | | some people have forgotten how to play, |
| comes to mind, and likely the one that | | | | but it's true. Most kids don't need to |
| parents use to try to dissuade a child | | | | be taught to play, but a pet can remind |
| when he says, "Can we get a dog?" For | | | | us that life isn't all about the chores. |
| some people, the responsibility of | | | | Sometimes it's just time to build a |
| caring for an animal can become a huge | | | | terrific hamster cage or take a walk in |
| chore that outweighs the joy of having | | | | the park - literally. |
| that pet. But for those who stick it | | | | Science - Some schools are seeing the |
| out, the pet is a good teacher and | | | | benefits of having live animals in the |
| children who have a pet from an early | | | | classrooms. Teachers are encouraged to |
| age learn quickly about the | | | | choose a pet that can live at school in |
| responsibility of caring for an animal | | | | a cage of some sort. Those animals can |
| that's dependent on them for food, water | | | | then be used to teach life science, |
| and other needs. | | | | including topics such as length of |
| Some chores are fun, some aren't - The | | | | gestation, development and eating |
| early days of having a pet are usually | | | | habits. While those lessons are very |
| not that difficult, until Fido doesn't | | | | limited in focus because students are |
| make it to the door or the gerbil cage | | | | learning about one particular kind of |
| has to be cleaned. That's when the pet | | | | animal, expanding on that first-hand |
| owner typically begins to weigh the fun | | | | knowledge tends to be easier than if |
| of playing ball with the dog against the | | | | students learned only from a text book |
| chore they're facing now. Learning that | | | | and photos. |
| some of the chores are fun (like playing | | | | There's no doubt that allowing a child |
| with the kitten) and some aren't | | | | to adopt a pet is a big step, but it's |
| (cleaning the litter box) is a fact of | | | | also a worthwhile investment. Remember |
| life. | | | | to choose age appropriate animals and to |
| Caring - Nurturing is not an instinct | | | | select an animal that fits your child's |
| that comes naturally to all people. Pets | | | | lifestyle and personality. For example, |
| are one way to teach that trait, or to | | | | if you have a kid who's always into |
| bring it to the surface. Many programs | | | | building, consider a mouse or hamster |
| around the world use pets in daycares, | | | | and help him build an awesome hamster |
| schools and nursing homes. People who | | | | cage in his room. If you live in the |
| have responded little to friends and | | | | country with room for a dog to run, a |
| families will instinctively reach for a | | | | canine pal may be the better bet. If |
| dog or cat. | | | | space is very limited, hermit crabs may |
| Patience - Pets teach us to be patience, | | | | be just what you need. |