Whenever your child’s sentence begins with “please mommy, can I have…” you, like many other parents, need to steel yourself for what comes next. What do they want this time? In all probability, as many children have before them, they are going to ask you to let a friend come to stay. And by friend, we don’t mean Billy down the road with his muddy shoes. No, we are talking about those other muddy prints that come from having a pet, especially if your child is asking for a cat or a dog. What do you say, yes or no? Well, if you are obsessive over your carpet cleaning, you should probably opt for a goldfish if your child wants a pet, but in any case, we think you should do the honourable thing to your child’s request and answer in the positive.
Here are eight excellent reasons why you should let your child have a pet.
- A pet will teach your child responsibility
A pet needs a lot of looking after, whether that’s cleaning out a rabbit hutch, feeding the goldfish, or taking the dog for a walk. While many parents eventually give in and take on these tasks themselves (despite the child’s promise they would be the caregiver), you need to exert a little bit of discipline. Make a list of all the tasks that need doing and pin them to your child’s bedroom door, and give them plenty of reminders. By taking ownership of another living thing, your child will learn to have empathy for others, and the diligence to care for something other than themselves.
- A pet can reduce the risk of allergies
According to medical research – check out www.sciencedaily.com – children who grow up in an environment surrounded by pets (especially furry ones), are less likely to develop allergies and asthma. While you can read the linked article for specifics (science isn’t our speciality), owning a pet bolsters your child’s immune system too. This won’t necessarily please your kids, but having a pet in the house is going to reduce the amount of time they spend off school from catching the latest bug or infection spreading around their classmates.
- A pet can improve your child’s self-confidence
As mentioned in one of our previous articles here at www.littlecrunchy.com, a pet can work wonders on your child’s confidence levels. Partly because of the responsibility involved in taking care of an animal, your child should feel a sense of achievement in doing so. This is something they can excel at, assuming they follow the guidelines you pinned up, and they will gain a lot of life lessons in the process that they can carry back into the classroom (including those show-and-tell sessions teachers are so fond of introducing).
- A pet provides companionship
Children who struggle with social skills or who are naturally shy when around others, can really flourish from the companionship of a pet. An animal isn’t going to bully or judge them, and after a difficult day at school, the pet will be there to greet your child, with a friendly paw and a willingness to play (not including goldfish). Children who suffer from anxiety will also benefit, as this article suggests – www.verywellmind.com – owning a pet has been proven to reduce stress levels thanks to their calming influence.
- A pet will promote exercise
We are living in a time when kids are more likely to spend time in their bedrooms on their games consoles and smartphones than spend time in the great outdoors. No wonder childhood obesity is on the rise. Assuming your child’s pet isn’t a goldfish, a pet can promote exercise. While many pets offer an opportunity for play and a little bit of exercise, your best bet for upping your child’s fitness levels is to buy them a dog (check out www.puppyjoy.net). Going on a walk each day, even if it’s just around the block, will increase your child’s fitness levels, and give them the fresh air they need as well. Playing frisbee in the park or garden is also fun, for both your child and pooch, as are family walks well away from anywhere with a distracting wifi signal.
- A pet allows for family bonding time
Following on from the above, a dog is great for those family walks, giving you opportunities to bond together as you go. However, any pet is useful in bringing a family together, whether it’s the shared responsibilities (I wonder who ends up cleaning out the kitty litter), or the talking and learning points a pet can provide. Pets provide endless amounts of joy and amusement, and you will all have memories to share for years to come.
- A pet will teach your child about the circle of life
One of the downsides of owning any living creature is that they will die one day. While you might want to protect your child from the thorny subject of death, you should still be honest with them when they are old enough to understand. So, rather than telling your child “fishy has gone on an extended holiday,” tell them instead that “fishy has gone to sleep with the… erm… fishes” (movie reference) or some other such words. The death of a pet is a tragic one, but your child will learn about the grieving process, and dealing with the death will help their resolve when they have to face more challenging life events in the future.
- Having a pet is fun!
It doesn’t matter what kind of pet it is (except perhaps the poor goldfish), having a pet can offer tremendous amounts of fun. Seeing kitty getting her head stuck in a cereal packet or playing ball with the dog are guaranteed forms of entertainment, and you will all benefit from the joy a pet can provide.
Finally
Have we convinced you to let your child have a pet yet? There are many advantages, so the next time you see those puppy dog eyes – from your child as well as the doggy in the window – you may want to give in to their begging – again, your child, as well as that proverbial doggy! Thanks for reading!


