Your Child Needs a Pet, Today!

Taking care of a pet requires a lot of effort, and so does good parenting. But parenting might get easier when your child starts becoming responsible for taking care of her pet.

You may have a two-year old who puts her scraps in the dustbin without being told. And your cousin may have a four-year old who puts her cup in the sink after finishing the milk, without any reminders.

It’s never too early to teach responsibility.  It’s not just about the child completing a task she is required or expected to do, but also about her feeling proud of her actions. Some children are spoon-fed until their adulthood. These children who do not have responsibilities feel entitled and grow up thinking that everything needs to be served to them on silver plate.

Responsibility is also doing something because it is morally right. As parents, we should try to instill good morals in our children when they perform certain tasks. It should be taken as something joyful for your children instead of a burden.

A child can be taught to be responsible in many ways. One of the ways of teaching responsibilities is through pets, which is perhaps the easiest and the best way. Some children will do anything to get a new pet, but it quickly becomes a challenge for them to handle the pet chores when novelty wears off. Parental involvement in planning pet care chores can be helpful for children, and will make them responsible for caring of their adorable pets.

1. Make a list of pet care chores for the kids that are easy for them to handle. Share the importance of the chores and telling them the consequences if the chores are not completed (i.e. the pet will remain hungry).
2. Make an effort to praise your child if she completes the chore without your involvement. Positively reinforcing responsible behavior will increase the likelihood of it reoccurring.
3. Don’t associate pet responsibilities with rewards or punishments. For example, if your child does something wrong or gets poor grades, don’t take away her play time with her pet.
4. Encourage your child to learn more about the pet, its behavior, its health and everything else. But don’t force her; let it go with the flow.
5. Make sure that the chores are well within their age and skill-levels.

Age 2 to 5:

• The child can give food to her pets, but only in the presence of the parents as the pets may bite their tiny fingers.
• Maintain the cleanliness of the pet house.

Age 6 to 10:

• Put food and water.
• Clean the pet droppings.
• Clean the pets, i.e. brushing, grooming, bathing, etc.
• Help with the pet exercise and walking.

Age 10 and above:

• At this age children can fully undertake any chore unless the pet is very huge or ferocious.

Buying a pet into the family is a very effective way of teaching children to be responsible. It helps them learn the value of work, and dedication and caring for one another. They often learn through examples, and by following your lead. With time they realize that beyond taking care of a pet, their involvement matters, and that they too can contribute and make a difference.