Your children have been begging you for a kitten or a puppy for months now. You have done your research and are considering welcoming a fluffy companion into your home. However, you still have some reservations regarding the situation. The question is, are your kids really ready to take on the responsibility of looking after a pet? Here is what you need to know.
There is no magic age
Unfortunately, there is no specific age at which your kids will be ready to take care of a pet. Some are ready at a really young age, while many kids will only truly be ready much later in life. A good indication one way or the other is to look at how they handle other responsibilities that have been given to them. For example, do your kids take responsibility for their school work? Do they complete their chores without needing to be pushed to do so? Do they show compassion for living beings? Do they enjoy being outdoors? If you have answered ‘yes’ to most of these, the chances are decent that your children are indeed ready to get a pet.
When to do it
Once you have decided that your children are ready for their first pet, you may be wondering when the best time is to actually go about finding the newest member of the family. Countless parents who have been there and done that recommend that you get the dog or cat during the school holidays. That way, your children won’t have anything else to focus on other than bonding with their pet. If you get the pet during school time, your children’s school work may suffer as a result of them being distracted. Furthermore, it will be more challenging getting them into a routine of looking after the cat or dog.
A good rule of thumb is to give each child a separate responsibility when it comes to taking care of the animal. Depending on the children’s ages, these responsibilities can be rotated on a weekly or monthly basis. For example, one child can be responsible for feeding and grooming, while the other one is responsible for providing fresh water and playing with the cat/taking the dog out for walks.
When not to do it
Aside from steering clear of getting a new pet during school time, there are other instances when you should avoid it too. Only ever get a pet once you have found a great vet in your area, like Heart + Paw. It is also wise to put it off if your children are going through a challenging period like dealing with the loss of a grandparent or their best friend moving to a new school. It is important that kids understand that animals are living beings and not possessions. They cannot be used to ‘fix’ negative emotions and are, instead life-long companions that require constant care, love, and attention.
Best of luck once you decide that you are ready to make this positive change. There is no doubt that a furry little animal will only add to the happiness within your family home!