When I was a child, I had the luxury of having many pets. I had rabbits dogs eat fish, frogs, turtles, cats, squirrels to name a few. I don't know if my parents knew they were teaching me life lessons by allowing me to have pets. But indeed they did. What did I learn from my pets? I learned how to love something. I learned how to keep something alive. I learned how pets relaxed me. They taught me responsibility. They taught me commitment. They taught me to take care of something else's needs before my needs.
I'm not sure if my parents realized what they were doing. I am not sure if they allowed me to have pets to teach me these things. But if someone has never had a pet how are they to learn these things? Does learning these things early make you a better parent, a better human, a better citizen. Does having pets make you more curious about the natural world. Does having pets make you think more about conservation of the planet, the ethical treatment of animals, indeed the ethical treatment of any living thing.
From my experience having a pet did all of those things. I learned early that pets are in so many ways like humans. They have needs emotions and feelings. Even though some would say animals do not have feelings. But those individuals have never seen a mother dog have to say goodbye to its puppies. They have never seen a pet greet you after a long time away. And they have never seen a pet mourn the loss of another pet.
So from my perspective it is critical children be exposed to pets. In a society that values technology and innovation, where are children going to learn these softer skills? All too often children now only wish to stay inside, to play a video game or watch television. A pet forces them out into the world. A pet forces them to learn their place in the world. A pet forces responsibility. Indeed, depending on the pet it can force exercise and a healthier lifestyle.
So what type of pets should you get for your children? My advice is to start small. Perhaps a turtle or a goldfish. The investment is minimal, and the child can learn at their own pace. Gradually, you can introduce them to more complex pets such as birds or rats or snakes. Dogs and cats are ultimately the best, but require the most work and responsibility. If you have the luxury of land, perhaps a horse or a pig or cow or goat?
Most any animal will do. But as a parent you bear the greatest responsibility to ensure that this animal is well treated and not overlooked until your child can be trusted to handle the full commitment. Before taking an animal into your home do your homework, research their needs. Understand the time commitment to take care of them, because ultimately that animal is your responsibility. It is just a tool you can use to teach your child about the world and their place within it.
Post Published By @muhammadadil .
