People are benefited in a variety of ways by owning and loving pets. There is scientific evidence that a person’s blood pressure is lowered, along with his or her heart rate, when petting and playing with an animal. For children, pets can provide many opportunities that assist in their development and help grow their emotional intelligence as well as teach them practical life skills.
Therapists consider dogs to show unconditional positive regard to their owners. This allows children to see what commitment means first hand. Because pets communicate without using language, children observe nonverbal communication and can develop empathy and the ability to respond to others’ feelings.
Toddlers are developmentally at a stage where they will play rough with pets; pre- school age children like to pet the animal over and over. By the time a child is five or six, you begin to see more sophisticated, gentle behaviors, such as hugging and massaging. Differences in the aforementioned can occur and are related to other factors, including whether or not a child has younger siblings.
Responsibility along with patience, duty and even sacrifice can be developed in a deeper way with pet ownership. Children are typically on the receiving end of their care and strive for independence. Caring for a pet places him/ her in the role of provider and allows for role-playing actions that will be required of them as they grow older and become more autonomous.
Finally, it is always sad to lose a pet, but it is inevitable due to its shorter life span. It is important not to shield a child from the grief associated with losing a pet because it is an opportunity to learn to let go, deal with loss and move on. Children learn that the feelings of love remain forever after the pet has departed, and this experience actually brings home the abstract concept – and the durability –of love.
By Christina Miller
A Boy and His Cat
Some people like to see their cats as wild To see the lion in the housecat’s eyes But Freddie Noodles is my fellow child A friendly lion in a handy size Our interspecies relationship is Mutually beneficial and his Interest in my welfare is genuine All the time I spend with him is time spent in Good company my Freddie Noodles and me Should we disagree telepathically The problem is solved very soon and resolved For we have evolved into the best of friends Justifying each others means and ends I find him to be the best housemate for me Never a word in anger spoken Never a promise made nor broken A boy and his cat and that is that Which is by any other name as sweet A happy household of boy and cat Where both of us always land on our feet
— Steven Curtis Lance
