Children and Animals
Do children benefit from growing up with animals? The answer is yes and there is ample evidence to prove this both emotionally and physically. Healthcare professionals constantly refer to the benefits of pet ownership to children.
Children who are brought up with animals are more likely to have a higher immune system and therefore are healthier. In fact, children who live on farms are exceptionally healthy.
It gives children a sense of responsibility as looking after animals, requires them to feed it, ensure that it has water plus exercise and stimulation.
On the subject of exercise, this ensures that youngsters get out and get fresh air and exercise.
Living with animals gives children a sense of compassion.
Children can confide their deepest fears to a pet, they can shed tears and allow their deepest emotions to flow. Animals are non-judgemental, they don’t criticise, don’t lecture, they just listen and even though they understand nothing, to a child the mere act of being able to express their innermost thoughts freely without consequences is so beneficial to their development. This interaction with a pet helps children expand their social skills.
They can assist to overcome a fear of animals because in general, particularly in households where the more older members of society have a wariness of animals mainly because of the fear of injury or disease such as rabies. In countries where this hideous disease was commonplace, it is hardly surprising that the older generation are frightened of any stray, particularly dogs.
A close relationship with a pet also gives an insight and understanding of the behaviour of wildlife. This gives them an appreciation of nature and their surroundings.
It brings home the reality of the circle of life. Pets don’t live forever and this can be extremely helpful when explaining mortality and being able to cope with the loss of friends and adults.
Many years ago I was told by a lady that she and her daughter lived on the 10th floor of an apartment building so owning a cat or a dog was out of the question. In order to ascertain how responsible her daughter could be she acquired a goldfish and explained that if the fish was looked after then maybe a hamster or a small furry pet might follow. Imagine her amazement to hear her daughter telling the goldfish all about her days at kindergarten and revealing all her secrets to the fish who went by the very imaginative name of Moby!!
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Animals come in all shapes and sizes and so many colours, they don’t have a race or creed, they don’t have a religion, their colour is irrelevant. There is no bigotry. Children only see a much-loved companion.
Children with learning difficulties, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, (ADHD), autism or who have suffered physical or emotional trauma benefit from the company of animals. Those with reading issues benefit from being around animals. In fact, research shows that in some cases children with these difficulties are far more comfortable with animals than with humans. In these cases, animals bridge the gap between children and adults.
Research shows that people brought up with animals are less likely to become involved in criminal activity
Doctors in these specialist fields almost unanimously agree that the benefits of animals to their patients is incalculable.
Now the question is what sort of pet is best?
The answer quite simply is, it doesn’t matter and obviously depends on many different factors. Lifestyle, finances, type of home etc but knowing as we do that most children regardless of circumstances benefit from growing up with a pet it’s whatever suits. From a hamster to a horse, the list is endless. Even a goldfish!
Finally, I quote from a letter sent to me from the mother of a badly injured child, a letter that I still have to this day. The background was that Stuart was kicked in the head by a horse and sustained 7 skull fractures, his life hung in the balance for many weeks much of it in a coma. He had always wanted a yellow labrador puppy but his parents said no because they felt that their lifestyle was not right.
Throughout this ordeal, they had to keep talking to Stuart to stimulate his brain and repeatedly promised a yellow labrador puppy. Stuart survived, 6 months later he went home and started the very long road to recovery. It would take years, walking, talking, even eating had to be re-learned and the promise was kept. A yellow labrador puppy arrived and was called Honey. The pair became inseparable and here I quote:
“One day Stuart was trying to walk from one side of the kitchen to the other with the aid of callipers when he got stuck in the middle and was in danger of falling, before either of us could reach him Honey must have realised the danger and came to his side whereupon Stuart out his hands on her back and she led him to the other side of the kitchen to safety.
Coincidence maybe but we are so glad we keep our promise.”
“A house is not a home without a pet.”
Anon