Pets Help Children Develop

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Children learn many positive behaviors from having a pet in their life.

Pets provide valuable life lessons in empathy and responsibility, according to new research from Purdue University (Hammond, Ind.) Whether they're furry, feathered, scaled or finned, pets can play a vital role in a child's over-all development, offering companionship and social support.

"There is no doubt that the relationship children have with pets has positive effects on their attitude and behavior," said Dr. Gail F. Melson, professor emeritus of developmental studies at Purdue. "Additionally, on a broader level, pets help develop a child's natural curiosity about the world."

Children receive other benefits from pets as well, said Melson, who also autored Why the Wild Things Are: Animals in the Lives of Children. For example:

Pets are like a best friend. Children often see their pets as confidants with whom they can freely share their feelings. Fish, guinea pigs or leopard geckos can be a strong source of emotional support. According to one of Melson's studies, 5-year-olds who regularly confided in their pets had an easier time adjusting to kindergarten because they had a way to express their feelings about the change.

Pets show children how to care. Taking care of a pet encourages children to think about more than themselves and become responsible for another being's welfare. Children who are involved in caring for pets are more empathetic and feel better about themselves. And because animals cannot speak, children learn to pick up on their pets' nonverbal cues.

Pets spark a love of learning. Children who have pets tend to become more interested in issues such as animal welfare and the environment than those without pets. In other words, pets are a starting point from which children begin to learn about the natural world.

Taken from the August 2011 issue of PetAge magazine.

Check back often to see what's new!