Which Pets Are Ideal For Children?
The benefits children receive from having pets close to them as they grow up are more than proven. Not only do animals teach them to respect, love and be responsible, they can also prevent allergies and diseases. Which pets are ideal for small children? Here are some to consider if you want to make your family bigger.
Ideal pets for children
Having pets at home offers many advantages and several scientific studies have shown this over time: having a dog helps to have a less sedentary life, people with cats are less likely to have heart problems and, in general, spend time with animals. increases the production of serotonin, the hormone that generates a feeling of well-being.
However, not all animals can have fun with small children. Each family has its own specific needs, but small children are usually less cautious, have poor control of their strength and have less patience than adults.
Therefore, the ideal pets for children are usually those that don’t need a lot of special attention or care. There are animals that require little attention and may be happy to live with small children and adults.
We must not forget that a pet should not be the sole responsibility of children. Homework can be assigned to teach responsibilities or routines, but an adult should always be the animal’s ultimate keeper.
Furthermore, when the child and animals interact, for safety, they must always be supervised by an adult.
Fish, among the ideal pets for children
Fish are very classic pets among children: they take up little space, as they have to live inside an aquarium. They are animals that require little care: after having properly filled the aquarium, you just have to worry about feeding them and keeping them clean.
Fish, therefore, are one of the ideal pets for children – they can take care of them, feed them and be responsible for knowing how much food to feed them. Cleaning, as it is a more complicated process, should be done by an adult.
Birds
A similar situation arises with birds, because they need little attention: since they usually live in a small space and clean themselves, they need little care. However, there are birds that require more interaction than others, and because the cage needs to be cleaned, they can be considered a slightly higher level in the responsibilities of young children.
Insects: an anthill
Having an anthill at home can be a very uplifting educational experience for children. Ants need very little care: from time to time they need to throw food and moisten the environment. The rest do it themselves.
It doesn’t take a lot of responsibility in caring for an anthill, but it encourages patience in babies – the results in growing the anthill take weeks, but it’s worth it.
The hamster
Hamsters are considered to be other ideal pets for children. These rodents are independent, so they don’t need a lot of time. Maintaining and caring for their cage is also simple. In addition, they can receive a varied diet that children can participate in.
However, it is worth bearing in mind that hamsters are physically very fragile: children who do not control their strength should not take the rodents out of the cage as they could unintentionally harm them. It is also good to remember that not all hamsters are social and many may not want to be picked up or stroked.
The dog
The ideal pet for children is always the dog. The responsibility for a dog’s care cannot fall entirely on a child: it must be taken outside and educated by an adult and its nutrition must also be monitored by an adult.
However, the dog is a great source of positive teaching for children: he is patient and playful, but also empathetic and, in his own way, responsible. Dogs are great communicators and can make great friends for children.
Each dog has a different personality, but in general, not all dog breeds are suitable for living with small children or in very busy homes: among the breeds that tend to adapt best are Labradors, Bretons or pointers.
Pets can be great teachers for young children: they are “forced” to follow routines and be responsible and patient. Plus, they can be great companions and friends for life.
