Pets Help Make for Better Parenting
Parenting with Pets Says Animals Create Happier, Healthier Kids
Most pet owners would agree that owning an animal - be it a cat, dog, bird, guinea pig, potbellied pig, goat, or just a little mouse – serves as training for parenthood. There’s the responsibility of caring for a pet’s physical and emotional needs, along with the occasional need to address behavioral or health issues.
The authors of one book, entitled Parenting with Pets: The Magic of Raising Children with Animals, say that owning pets not just before, but also during parenthood will help make for a happier, healthier family.
Authors Christine Hamer and Margaret Hevel say that while owning a pet may add to a parent’s “to do” list, the benefits to both parents and children are extremely valuable.
Experts have discovered that for adults, the very act of petting the cat can lower blood pressure, lower stress and cholesterol levels and petting a cat can release pleasurable endorphins. (Friedmann, 1983, Anderson 1992); walking the dog can provide an opportunity for regular exercise, making for a healthy heart and cardiovascular system.
Pets can also provide children with emotional support. In a world where other children can be cruel, and where parents simply “don’t understand,” a pet can lend a nonjudgmental ear.
In Parenting with Pets, Hevel and Hamer explain, "At Purdue University Center for the Human-Animals Bond, Dr. Alan Beck found that nearly seventy percent of children confide in their pets. The children said that they knew their pets would not betray them or their secrets. In general, children gave animals high scores for listening, reassurance, appreciation, and companionship. They also believed that their pets provided them with unconditional love. One 1985 Michigan study found that seventy-five percent of children, ages ten to fourteen, turned to their feathered or furry friend when they felt upset."
Experts have also discovered that pets can help children when family life becomes turbulent, such as in the case of a divorce, illness or death in the family – a child with a pet will cope and adjust more efficiently. (Raveis, 1993)
In addition to the mental benefits, there’s also physical benefits enjoyed by children who own a pet. Hamer and Hevel say that kids who have pets experience less stress, depression, and anxiety. Experts also say that children who are exposed to animals from a young age are less likely to develop allergies and asthma. (Hesselmar, 1999) Kids with autism are more apt to exhibit social behaviors when there’s a pet in the household, and in toddlers, children with pets exhibit better cognitive abilities and stronger motor skills. (Redefer, 1989)
The benefits of family pet ownership are clear, but many parents wonder, “When will I find time to take care of a pet?” This is another topic that Hevel and Hamel address in Parenting with Pets, which includes a chapter on how to select the right pet. They also detail the care and time requirements for the various types of animals, providing parents with a better idea of what type of animal would best fit into the family.
And for families who simply can’t accommodate a pet, Hamel and Hevel provide tips for including animal interaction in their child’s life, from visiting the park, zoo or animal shelter, to examining the insects in the back yard.
Parenting with Pets provides parents with a look at the benefits of pet ownership in a family setting, how to accommodate a new pet in a family, along with alternatives for parents whose lifestyle doesn’t allow for the adoption of a new pet.
“Pets can present parents with numerous teachable moments, allowing a parent to teach their child about tolerance, responsibility, compassion, unconditional love, trust, and even faith… This is an important book for anyone getting ready to own a pet, or anyone who already has a pet in his or her life. And the rewards a family will gain from investing time with pets are priceless and life changing.”
Sources:
The Delta Society – The Human-Animal Health Connection.
Family pets make for healthier, happier kids.
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