When children want a pet, they only think about the fun aspects, while parents mainly focus on the time and labour involved. Giving a child responsibility for their own pet is generally worth the effort, provided you find the right pet.

For parents who aren't quite comfortable with the idea of having an animal in the house, here are some of the benefits of having a pet and the positive influence it has on a child's development:

 

 

Statistically, children who grow up with one or more pets rarely or never develop allergies and asthma.

Physical contact with cats and dogs calms and lowers blood pressure, not only in children but also in adults.

Depending on the pet, a child may spend more time outdoors in the fresh air when playing with the animal.

Playing with a pet gets children moving more.

A pet owner generally gets sick less often.

A child who is learning to read is less inhibited about reading aloud to their pet than to their parents to practise reading.

By caring for their own pet, children learn to take responsibility.

The transfer of responsibility increases self-confidence.

Handling a live animal teaches the child social behaviour and emotional control.

An only child feels less alone with a pet when his friends are not around.

Sharing a pet between siblings connects and deepens their relationship.

Petting pets reduces stress and nervousness.

The much shorter lifespan of pets means that children learn to deal with death.