Getting Your Kids Involved with Pet Care

Pets and kids just seem to go together, and many consider getting a pet a rite of passage for families. While taking an active role in pet care can provide a child with important early lessons in responsibility, parents need to find the right balance of age-appropriate activities that encourage their child without making them grow bored or feel resentful of the pet. Doing so will go a long way in building the bond between the pair.

With children under the age of five, it’s crucial to have supervision at every interaction between pet and child. They need to acclimate to each other’s presence and learn proper responses. For example, a pet will need to learn that a curious toddler might reach for the pet’s toys, water bowl, or food bowl as toys. The child needs to be taught how to respect the pet’s space. Be kind, and the pet will learn to be gentle with the child’s actions. At this stage, a child can observe how the parents feed and care for the pet, so they get a basic understanding of all that is involved. The child can also be taught that the pet is a member of the family.

In general, children six and above can be active participants in pet care in a number of ways. The key is to start simple and know your child and your pet. For example, if you get a fish or hamster for a first pet, show the child the proper way to feed it and supervise feeding times. Also, have the child around when doing other necessary tasks such as cleaning the water or cage, so the child once again gets a lesson in all that goes into pet ownership. Also, have your child be part of the selection and naming processes so they can better connect with the animal.

If a dog or cat is part of the family, encourage children to take on small, fun bonding activities at first. Children can be taught to gently groom the pet head to tail or feed it treats. Of course, play time is great for both the child and the pet.

One healthy family activity is walking a pet, especially a dog. While a young child might be excited to walk a dog on a leash, there are many factors to consider before heading out such as the breed, size, and temperament of the dog. It’s best always to supervise and go slow. A parent can best judge when a child is mature enough to handle the pet. The family can also spend time with the dog at a dog park while getting to know each other.

When it comes to feeding time, don’t make the child the sole person responsible. Start with having the child fill the water bowl or add new kibble to a dish a few days a week. This can be added to other chores the child has. Then, as a child ages, the responsibilities can increase and should include the not-so-fun, but necessary, tasks of cleaning a litterbox or poop scooping.

Inevitably, there will be missteps along the way. A tail might be pulled, a cat squeezed too tight, or a meal missed. Those can be lessons, too. Children can learn that having a pet is an amazing privilege and responsibility.