At my home, our two dogs and our cat are members of the family. But you need to take great care picking the right pet when you have children. And, as a parent, you need to teach your children how care for animals.
Marina Haynes, curator of the Philadelphia Zoo's children's zoo, says it's important to research a potential pet. "We have a lot of people who go into a pet shop and they fall in love with something and they don't realize all the work that's involved. The kids get excited about something and then eventually that excitement wears off. You need to make sure that animal is one your child can take care of well. That way you can have a long-term relationship with your animal."
Haynes says, if you have young children, you should steer clear of smaller animals, like mice and chinchillas that need to be handled gently. Cats typically don't like unpredictability, so don't be surprised if your cat runs away when your youngster comes into the room. Children need to learn to move slowly around most cats. Many breeds of dogs do well with young children. But you should take each animal's individual personality into account when choosing a pet. Any nervous or aggressive animals should be kept away from children.
Haynes suggests teaching your children to let an animal come to them, not the other way around. If your child sits down, perhaps with a tasty treat, the animal can approach on its own terms. Never push a child toward an animal, or vice versa. Animals pick up body language, so an anxious child could upset a pet.
Bringing an animal into your home as a family pet can be a great tool for teaching your children responsibility and how to respect all living things. "The children should be involved in the process," Haynes says. "They should be involved in helping select the right animal and participating in the care. Doing the daily care helps a child build a bond with that animal and that teaches your child to love and respect the animal." Happy parenting! Cecily
. Read more Parenting Perspective blogs by visiting the Parenting Channel on 6abc.com.
