Families For Life | 5 reasons to add a furry friend to your family

Maybe you had a family pet, watched too many pet videos on social media, or have kids who have been begging for a new furry friend; whatever the reason, if you’re reading this article, it means you’re thinking about adding a pet to your family!

As parents, it’s normal to feel apprehensive about making such an important decision. Pets can be major financial and emotional commitments, and getting one is not a choice to be made lightly. Some pets, like fish and hamsters, are also deceptively beginner-friendly and come with more responsibilities than many people think!

However, adding a pet to your home offers plenty of benefits, especially for a growing child. Read on to find out how pets can be great teachers and why you should consider adding one to your family.

#1 Learn lessons about responsibility

From feeding and grooming to cleaning enclosures, pets require routine care that helps you teach your child more about responsibility. Share the task of caring for your pet with everyone in the family and involve the young ones in simple chores too! These tasks can also create structure and reinforce the idea that others depend on your child – an invaluable lesson to learn!

#2 Get comfort and companionship

Pets make great companions. For many children, they can act as playmates too! Interacting and playing with another living creature can help children manage emotions, build compassion, and improve social skills outside of the school environment.

#3 Pets can teach important life lessons

Patience, care, commitment, empathy, compassion… the list goes on! Owning and being responsible for a pet can instil important values in your child. Simple acts like learning how to gently handle a hamster or preparing treats for a pet can give children hands-on experience with caregiving and build important skills that they will carry with them for life.

#4 Spark curiosity and encourage learning

There’s never a dull moment with an animal around! By observing your pet’s behaviour, your child is also learning more about the world. They can develop an interest in animals and the natural environment. Exposing your child to a pet also gives them first-hand experience in understanding and accommodating different needs and temperaments. There are plenty of lessons to learn with a pet in the home!

#5 Create bonding moments

Anyone who has had a family pet knows how powerful pets can be in strengthening family ties. Whether it’s through shared routines and responsibility or laughing at your pet’s antics, a furry friend can create moments for family members to bond! Many will carry these memories into their adulthood.

Pets have plenty of benefits to offer and they can be a wonderful addition to any home. Don’t forget to do plenty of research before getting the pet you want, and involve the little ones in the process of bringing them home too!