Introduction
Keeping of pets is very common in many families around the world. Different families keep pets for various reasons. According to Brayfield (73), many people do not understand the real benefits of some of the common pets that families keep. They only consider pets as companions that add some value to their families, but they cannot be able to identify these specific values. The research by Friedman (35) reveals that pets have massive benefits to children’s development. Different pets contribute differently to a child’s development. This means that some pets offer greater values than other, given the perspective that one takes during the analysis. It is necessary to note that some researchers have argued that pets pose dangers to people, especially to children.
These researchers have mentioned bites, scratches, allergies, and animal-human disease transfer as some of the reasons why it is necessary for children to stay away from pets. Although this argument has truth in it, Palmiter (56) says that when the right hygiene is kept and regular medical check-ups for the pets and family members is maintained, the risk of disease transfer can easily be eliminated. This means that these negative effects can be regulated, making the benefits to outweigh the dangers of keeping pets for children. This research focuses on analyzing some of the benefits of keeping pets for children.
Benefits of Keeping Pets for Children
There has been an extensive research to determine some of the specific benefits of keeping pets for children. According to Brayfield (41), keeping of pets help in promoting physical exercise of children. In the current society where technology defines the social life of human beings, children have become addicted to indoor games played in computer. The computer games have eliminated the physical games like skiing, riding, jogging, and even football which are very important for the physical growth of children.
Keeping a dog would make a child develop an interest to take it around the home for some physical exercise, just as they see their parents do. This makes them consider jogging as a game that also involves their favorite pets. Sometimes it may be necessary to have a close parental supervision if the child is below 12 years. This exercise will eliminate many health complications such as obesity, and enable these children to develop into healthy adolescents.
Pets play an important role in the social development of children. According to Dann (78), pets are some of the best social facilitators for children. Some children are always very shy, because of the parental neglect, parental abuse, or genetically reasons. Such children would always feel inferior before their peers or other members of the family. Such children are always withdrawn and will try to avoid the presence of other people.
This condition may become worse if the parents or guardians ignore it as a stage in life that such a child would be able to overcome. Dogs can play a pivotal role in helping such children overcome their conditions. According to Brayfield (89), every human being- irrespective of age or other demographical factors- needs someone to confide in and share some of the fears in life. Some of these children may find solace in some of the social pets like dogs. They may feel comfortable playing with dogs because the pet will not realize that the child is an introvert. From such games, an introvert child would become very active, always preferring to jog around with the dogs. Such physical exercise is very instrumental in helping them overcome some of the fears. This may boost their social development.
Pets are important in the development of a sense of responsibility by children when they are allowed to take care of them. In most of the cases, a parent would feed the pets, clean them, and give them medicine while children are watching. According to Friedman (123), children are good learners when they are allowed to observe how some of these activities are done. While parents teach their children a sense of responsibility, the pets act as a vehicle through which this learning process can be realized. Children get to know that as human beings, we have a responsibility in our lives. In some cases, a child would see a parent setting aside a portion of dog’s food or medicine for future use.
This makes them know that resources are scarce, and there is always a need to use them sparingly, storing some of the products whenever we have excess for the purpose of future use. This makes them grow up into responsible individuals who know how to take care of resources within their custody. According to Brayfield (82), it also helps children develop self-esteem when they are allowed to feed the pets. This makes them feel that they are of great value to the family. This is very important in helping them grow up into successful people in life.
Pets may be very helpful in enhancing a child’s cognitive development. According to Dann (115), a child may develop an interest in particular pet that may become its favorite. Such a child is always willing to learn more about their favorite pets in order to be able to take care of them in a better way. For instance, a child who is fond of the family dog will always try to find a way of making it feel comfortable. When a veterinary officer visits, such a child would want to ask so many questions.
The child would want to know why a specific medicine is used, the importance of the injection, the effect of the medicine in the body, if the injection will not kill the dog, and how he can help take care of the dog in the absence of the veterinary officer. When these questions are answered articulately and in simple languages that the child can learn, the information will stick. Such information can be very important in the life of the child other than when taking care of the dog. Such a child would be able to fight its fear towards injection because they already know that the pain of the injection is only short-lived, but its benefits last long.
The child would also be able to know why it is necessary to maintain a high level of hygiene when taking care of the dogs and this will be applied in their own cases. In class work, such a child would have a better performance because of the practical experience that it is subjected to when dealing with these pets. As Brayfield (90) says, pets may also evoke a child’s desire to do a research by reading books that talk about their favorite pets. When they find books with proper graphics and simple language about their topic, they get to understand the importance of conducting an independent research. This will improve their performance at school.
Pets may play an important role in the psychotherapy of a child. According to Dann (24), the relationship between a child and a pet is always non-judgmental. Children who are emotionally weak because of a mistake they have done would prefer going to a dog, holding it closely, and then confessing the mistake. This is so because they know that the dog would not judge them harshly. Instead, it would respond in a reassuring manner, something that may not be the case when the child confided in a person. According to Brayfield (92), it is normal that sometimes people may be interested in making some confessions to people they trust hoping that their confession will remain secret.
Such confessions always have the effect of reducing the burden of having to keep the information to oneself. However, most children do not trust their parents, guardians, or elders they stay with because of the harsh judgment or even a punishment that may follow. They also do not trust their peers because they can share the secrets with the parents or use it as a tool to frustrate them in the family. For this reason, they prefer keeping the information to themselves, which may be hurting. Pets such as dogs or cats always offer them the best solution. When they confess to these pets, they know that they will not be judged harshly, and that their secrets will remain safely protected. This makes these pets to perfect psychotherapy to children, making them appreciate the importance of some values in life.
Taking care of a pet improves the common bond among siblings within a family. According to Friedman (57), it is normal to find siblings fighting over various issues in the family. It could be a fight for the attention of the parents, fight over gifts bought for everyone, or many other factors. In most of the cases, these fights or differences may not be good for the development of a bond between the siblings. If not addressed within the right time, these differences may be entrenched in these siblings and they may end up growing to become sworn enemies. Pets may play an important role in eliminating these differences and bonding the siblings to grow up loving one another.
For instance, when these siblings are fond of dogs, they will always strive to take care of it by feeding it, giving it medication, or washing it. When one of the siblings takes care of the dog, the other will consider it a favor done to them because of their fondness to the dog. This pet will, therefore, act as a bridge between these two siblings that brings them together. It also becomes easy for the siblings to realize that they have more factors that bring them together than what sets them apart. This positive bonding in the family is very important in the positive development of these children. They will learn values such as sharing tasks, sharing their gifts and other properties, and the need to approach various problems as a unit in order to succeed in life.
Pets may also help in the reduction of stress and anxiety amongst children. The research by Brayfield (34) shows that cuddling of pets has an effect of reducing stress among children. Sometimes a child may develop anxiety because of a mistake done, or anticipation. Cuddling of pets such as a cat may help reduce anxiety. The pets may also help eliminate the feeling of loneliness. When a child plays with a dog or a cat, the feeling of loneliness is always eliminated. They get entertained, and this makes them forget the fact that they are lonely. Pets are also known to help children fight stress (Friedman 76). For instance, when a parent or a guardian scolds a child, a pet would be a perfect solution for the child. Playing with the pet may help the child forget about the scold.
Arguments against Keeping Pets for Children
A section of researchers have warned against allowing children to get into contact with pets because of the physical or psychological harm that these pets may inflict on them. McConnel (1240) says that some families keep snakes as their favorite pets. Although these snakes are always non-poisonous, this does not eliminate chances that they may bite, and in case this happens, it will affect a child in various ways. There will be a pain that the child will be subjected to because of the bite. Perhaps the worst effect will manifest itself psychologically. Such a child will grow up in fear of other pets or even people because of such incidents.
Ascione (56) says that dogs and other pets may also pass some diseases, such as rubies, to children. Such diseases may be fatal if immediate medical attention is not offered. McConnel (1245) feels that dogs or cats may cause physical harm to children. A cat may scratch a child during the play, and this may cause physical and emotional torture. Even after the wound is treated, such a child would fear cats, and their presence in the house would mean lack of freedom to them. It is also a fact that some children may develop allergic reactions when they come into contact with some of the pets. Keeping these pets may subject such children to constant health problems. Although these arguments have some truth, it is important to note that these scholars also appreciate that pets may be important in the development of a child.
Conclusion
Keeping of pets has become common in various societies around the world. However, the traditional reason why these pets were kept is very different from the reason why people keep them today. Dogs were meant to offer security, cats to take care of mice, and horse to help in transport. However, these animals are currently serving a different purpose. This study has revealed that pets can play an important role in the development of a child. Although some scholars have stated that some of these pets may cause physical or emotional harm, they also appreciate that with proper care and wisdom when choosing the pets, children stand to gain by interacting with them. Children will benefit physically, socially, emotionally, and cognitively. For this reason, parents are encouraged to choose the right pets for their children to help in their effective development.
Works Cited
Ascione, Frank. Children and Animals: Exploring the Roots of Kindness and Cruelty. West Lafayette: Purdue University Press, 2004. Print.
Brayfield, Amy. Your Child’s First Pet: A Parent’s Guide to Ensuring Success. Ocala, Fla: Atlantic Pub. Group, 2011. Print.
Dann, Bucky. Creating Children’s Sermons: 51 Visual Lessons. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1981. Print.
Friedman, Jacob. New Transcription Factors and Their Role in Diabetes and Therapy. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2006. Web.
McConnel, Allen. “Friends With Benefits: On The Positive Consequences Of Pet Ownership.” Journal of Personality & Social Psychology 101.6 (2011): 1239-1252. Print.
Palmiter, Sarah. Pets As Healers: The Benefits of Animal-Assisted Therapy with Children. Pasadena, Calif: Pacific Oaks College, 2009. Print.