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Getting you kids interested in wanting or having a pet isn't usually a problem. The trick is getting them interested in continuing to take care of their new pet once their initial excitement has worn off. Is getting your child a pet a good idea?
Sure. Having a pet can help teach your child responsibility, how to be patient, and the importance of regular routines. The time that you spend with your children helping take care of their pets is also a good source of quality time, especially for younger children. Caring for pets can also help you prepare your child for major life events, such as sickness and death.
And recent studies have shown that having multiple pets in your house might decrease your child's chances of developing allergies later in life.
Getting a pet can also be a good 'reward' for your child to work for if you are having problems with potty training resistance, getting your child to sleep all night, or general discipline problems.
Although your kids will likely want a dog or cat (once they learn that they can't have a pony), that can be a big investment of money and time, especially if your children aren't ready to take care of their pet by themselves.
A pet that is a little easier to take care of and which can help demonstrate if your children are responsible and ready to take care of a pet might be a better idea.
Good first pets include fish, a turtle, or a small lizard.
Something a little more exotic might also be fun, like a hermit crab or frogs, which are also good ideas for first pets.
Frogs are a personal favorite of mine. Although you shouldn't usually handle them, they are a little more interactive than fish, as you have to catch (or buy) small insects, like crickets, for your frogs. And most kids enjoy watching their frogs jump around and eat.
If you want someting even easier to take care of, consider an ant farm as your first 'pet'. You only have to feed and give them water about once a week, they don't make any noise, and most kids enjoy watching their ants work and make their tunnels.
Once your child has shown that he can care for a pet, moving to a pet that he can spend more time actively playing with can be a good idea. This might include a hamster, gerbil, guinea pig, rabbit, mice, or a bird, which can all also make good first pets.
A dog or a cat might also be a good first pet, although they will require more time and attention from your child.
Here are some more things to consider before getting your child a new pet:
- A pet can be a big investment of money. The pet itself might be inexpensive, such as $3 for a frog or $7 for a hamster, but by the time you figure in the cost of your pet's home and supplies, you might get up to $40 to $50 or more. This is a good reason to go to the pet store without your children while you research getting a pet. Make sure that you are aware of all of the 'hidden' costs of any pet you are going to buy.
- And pets can be a big investment of your time. Is your child ready to take care of a pet? If not, are you prepared to take over?
- The pet you are considering might have characteristics that you don't like. For example, hamsters are nocturnal, and so sleep all day and are active at night, which is hopefully opposite from your own child's schedule. In addition to not being able to play with them much, the noises the hamster makes when he is awake might scare your child if they are in the same room.
- Be aware that some pets can carry infections that can make your child sick, such as reptiles with salmonella and cats with toxoplasmosis (which can be a big danger if your are pregnant and clean their litter box). So be sure to teach your children to wash their hands after handling their pets.
- What will you do if your child's pet dies? Will you just replace it? Or use the loss as a way to teach your child about grief and death?
While getting a pet can be a good idea for your children, be sure that they can handle the responsibility, especially before getting a pet that requires a lot of attention, like a dog.
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