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