Surely many of you will also think like me that having a pet at home can be beneficial for children. However, before taking care of an animal we must analyze the pros and cons of the decision, and above all we must ensure that it is not a passing whim.
We have talked before in Peques and Más about pet ownership, and about the relationship with dogs. Today we would like to deepen the assessment of our ability to care for an animal, and also the involvement of our children. With a dog you can interact a lot and cats are affectionate, there are also those who opt for small rodents or birds and even reptiles (many children love marine or terrestrial turtles). It is not that the decision is complex but at least we will inform ourselves well about the following aspects:
-Animal life expectancy
-Careful you need
-Recommendations of the specialists (veterinarian, caretaker of the shelter or owner of the store where it is acquired)
The application of this advice will depend on the degree of maturity of the child, but when they are very young they will hardly be able to take care of all the care that the new family member will require. That is why if it is only the child who asks for a pet, and we want him to take responsibility, it is worth waiting for him to be 9 or 10 years old.
A pet is not a toy, and this is something we will pass on to our children. The relationship you establish with children can be fantastic, but always with respect and responsibility, since pets need to be fed, maintain hygiene, have them walk or play with them, etc. None of these aspects should be neglected.
I am increasingly clear that I do not like to see animals that have drastically lost their freedom, so I do not think we agree to buy a hamster or parakeet. At the moment with the cat we are fine, although having a dog would be motivating, however one has to be able to take care of it properly.
The decision to have an animal at home or not begins by talking with the children to make sure they are clear that the whole family will assume some tasks in relation to the new member. Although prior to this conversation with the children there must be a consensus.
Then comes the decision: Dogs are playful, intelligent, they can help make new friends ... but it is more convenient for them to be small (at least until the children are teenagers). Cats are not so docile but they are fun and we don't have to take them out, although they need adequate space in the house.
Between the small mammals, stand out for being more common gerbils, rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters. Rabbits and guinea pigs are very nice because they have the ideal size to pet, although their cages must be cleaned very often. Despite having a tail that does not give them a graceful appearance, gerbils are very clever and docile, and can be good company for children. Watching hamsters is curious, but if you have a partner we can find that the family multiplies.
And children with animal hair allergy have the possibility of owning pets if their parents agree to buy them fish, reptiles or small birds. With these animals they will not be able to interact, however they should take good care of them, and be responsible for their welfare.
In short, what I intend to convey is that the decision to have a pet goes through the consensus of the family, but also by know the involvement of children. We will all be aware of our responsibility towards the animal, and have planned who will take care of it if we are absent a few days for vacations or due to a grandparent's illness.
