When searching for creative and interactive ways to teach your child about core life lessons, consider introducing pet-care into their daily routine. Caring for an animal helps your child develop a platform of empathy, commitment, and responsibility that transfers into other aspects of their life while strengthening the bond between your pet and child. If you’re a parent looking to bring pet care into your child’s routine, here is everything you need to know.
Create an Organized Routine
A major component of pet care is developing a routine. Routines are essential for pets as they promote a sense of security and safety. For children, routines help them stay on track, keeping them organized and on top of their chores. We recommend mapping out your child’s pet care chores on a whiteboard or chart to help them stay consistent. For younger children, having a sticker system that earns them a sticker for each task completed can be extra helpful in encouraging your child to keep up with their commitment.
Choose Age-Appropriate Pet Care Chores
Choosing pet care chores for children can be challenging. Their age, maturity level, and disposition play a significant role in what is safe and reasonable for them to take on. We recommend not leaving children under the age of six alone during their pet-related chores. Instead, get them involved by showing them how you handle various tasks so they can learn about what pet-care entails. For children seven and older, you may introduce them to pet chores gradually, and with time, allow them to navigate the tasks on their own.
The Benefits of Introducing Pet Care Responsibilities to Children
Including your child in pet care has been shown to have a positive impact on their development and mental health. Pets help with a child’s emotional regulation. By nature, children are born to seek co-regulation from their parents or caregivers. With age, they learn to self-soothe. When children are exposed to a pet and the responsibilities of pet care, they learn more about both of these emotional regulatory responses. For instance, when a child is upset, they find comfort in their beloved pet, and when the pet is uneasy, they find comfort in the love they receive from the child.
For more information on the benefits of pet-care for children and how you can incorporate these responsibilities into your child’s routine, reach out to your trusted veterinarian today.