It might seem like a challenge to have both pets and children in the same household. After all, pets can already be a handful. Children can also be an added responsibility. But each of them can balance out each other. Pets need companionship and love, which is something that children can give without reservation. Besides that, children can learn a lot from having a pet in their lives. Here are some things you can do so that both members of your family will come out all right.
Teach Them To Respect Your Pet
One of the first things you have to teach your child is to respect your pet. A lot of young children tend to be very aggressive when it comes to treating pets. This can come in various forms. For cats, dogs, and other pets that roam about your house, children tend to enter their personal space. They don’t know that they are doing anything wrong, so they tend to catch and touch the pet.
One of the things you should teach them early is learning to keep out of a pet’s personal spaces unless the pet approaches them. They should also learn not to interrupt pets when they are sleeping or eating. You should also stop children from provoking and teasing animals. Teaching them to stay their distance and treat pets well is an essential part of introducing pets.
Educate Them About Your Pet
Having a pet can be a great learning experience for children. You should take the time to educate your child about the details about the pet you have. For example, if you have a hamster for a pet, you should teach your children a few things about them. Some interesting facts about hamsters include the fact their teeth never stop growing. Their incisors keep developing, so they have to keep gnawing on various food items to keep their teeth in check.
The constant work keeps the teeth sharp and reduces them to manageable levels. Besides teaching them these facts, your children will be able to know more about the pet. Talk to them about cues like growling or tail wagging to explain to them how to know whether to approach a pet or not.
Give Them Pet Care Chores
The good thing about teaching your child about pets is that you can then start assigning them the appropriate chores. There are many things that they can do to help out in taking care of a pet. For those below the age of five, helping with feeding and watering a pet can be a fun time. They can also help in cleaning up after a pet. For those who are a bit older, having them help exercise or groom the pet can be a big time-saver for you.
Emphasize Safety and Health On Both Sides
Pets can be both dangerous and in danger. Children are notorious for being harsh on a pet if you don’t teach them proper pet handling. Be an example and teach them how to properly deal with pets ranging from petting them to touch them safely. You should also teach them to look for warning signs of ill health. For example, you can teach your children to look out for potential fleas or even rodent bites on your pets. Depending on the severity, you might only need to do some delousing. If it is awful, then a call to the pest control company might be necessary.
Pets and children, once they know what to do, can be a delightful combination. Young children will appreciate the responsibility given to them, while poets love having another person taking care of them. If you do it right, your family will come out better from it all.
