Trying to decide when your child is ready for a pet can be hard. Are they old enough to feed it? Clean up after it? Care for it every day? And remember to pay attention to it too?
I don't think there's an exact age, as all kids develop at their own pace, but I do think there are some things they should be able to do first. The type of pet should also be considered dependent upon their level of maturity.
Fish are a great starter pet because you add a little food every day an if you don't have a filtered tank then you clean it out when needed. They are low maintenance and won't mess up your house. A hamster or gerbil seems the next logical step. They stay in a cage and need food, water, and a clean cage. I wasnt so keen on the idea this time, as now I won't be getting the pet I've long wanted, I just don't need too many things to feed, it won't happen. However, when they can do most of the care an the giver of the pet has offered to pay for the ongoing care and feeding, it's hard to say no...
So now I get to see just how ready my girl is for a pet. So far to going well, she makes sure there's good and water and a clear path and access to each. Maybe she can start takin care if herself a bit more too, and I can have hot showers again...
Having a pet teaches responisibility and empathy and caring for other animals and people. It also can encourage learning and helps with self esteem. If they can tell their friends it's their very own pet and they take care of it they will have a sense of pride, and in something worth vein proud of. These kids are our future, how they learn to care for small helpless animals now may be reflected in how they parent and then how they care for their parents (yup, this is where we get all that love and caring back!) when we age and need them.
I don't think there's an exact age, as all kids develop at their own pace, but I do think there are some things they should be able to do first. The type of pet should also be considered dependent upon their level of maturity.
Fish are a great starter pet because you add a little food every day an if you don't have a filtered tank then you clean it out when needed. They are low maintenance and won't mess up your house. A hamster or gerbil seems the next logical step. They stay in a cage and need food, water, and a clean cage. I wasnt so keen on the idea this time, as now I won't be getting the pet I've long wanted, I just don't need too many things to feed, it won't happen. However, when they can do most of the care an the giver of the pet has offered to pay for the ongoing care and feeding, it's hard to say no...
So now I get to see just how ready my girl is for a pet. So far to going well, she makes sure there's good and water and a clear path and access to each. Maybe she can start takin care if herself a bit more too, and I can have hot showers again...
Having a pet teaches responisibility and empathy and caring for other animals and people. It also can encourage learning and helps with self esteem. If they can tell their friends it's their very own pet and they take care of it they will have a sense of pride, and in something worth vein proud of. These kids are our future, how they learn to care for small helpless animals now may be reflected in how they parent and then how they care for their parents (yup, this is where we get all that love and caring back!) when we age and need them.