The Perks of Owning a Family Pet

From the joys of companionship to the necessary commitment to daily chores, there are many things to consider when deciding whether or not to add a furry friend to your family. As you explore how a new animal will impact your life, check out these perks of growing up with pets and consider whether a four-legged friend would make a good addition to your homeschool family.

PETS IMPROVE HEALTH.

Physical Exercise
Walking the family dog can be an exciting way for children to take a break from the books and get some exercise. The animal benefits from the walk while providing your kids with companionship as they work out together.

Strengthened Immune Systems
A 2012 study published in Pediatrics indicates that contact with dogs during the first 12 months of life may contribute to better resistance to infectious respiratory illnesses during childhood. Another study published in 2011 in the journal Clinical & Experimental Allergy suggests that exposure to cats and dogs during infancy may decrease the development of pet allergies later in life.

PETS STRENGTHEN EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

Empathy
Adding a pet to your home challenges your children to discover the animal’s individual personality and perceive situations from his or her perspective. Practicing empathy with the family pet makes it easier for kids to employ the skill during peer and family interactions.

Respect
Like humans, no two animals respond to a situation in the same way. Alongside practicing empathy, your children can practice respect by responding to the animal’s unique wants and needs.

Nurturing Skills
Pets are also a great way to teach children how to care for other living creatures. Over time, they’ll discover and learn how to respond to the animal’s wants, needs, likes, and dislikes. They’ll also have the opportunity to earn the animal’s trust by following through with pet-related chores and providing loving, respectful care.

Stress Relief
From snuggles and grooming to exercise, many activities that pets and owners participate in together provide the owner with ways to relax and de-stress.

PETS BUILD LIFE SKILLS.

Responsibility
Your new pet’s survival depends on human care. Whether your children are in charge of walking the dog, feeding the fish, or cleaning out the cat’s litter box, pets are an excellent way to teach your kids to be accountable.

Sharing
The type of animal you get will influence the amount of sharing your kids have to do, but adding any animal to the family can help them develop their sharing skills. Over time, your children will learn to share not only the animal’s attention with others, but also their own time and space as they discover what it takes to care for the critter.

Patience
Training a new pet is a learning experience, especially for children. Use it as an opportunity to practice patience within your home, and teach your kids to do the same. Together, create and enforce one set of uniform rules for your pet to follow. This will make it easier for the animal to learn the rules. It will also help your family exercise patience with both the animal and each other.