Parenting Advice Helping Kids With Their Pets

The parenting tips below are to help teach kids to create mutually healthy relationships with their pet friends, so both can have the maximum fun from these relationships. Most people will remember fondly their entire lifetime their childhood pets, help to make that experience the best.

Teach your child how to read the pet's body language, especially when the pet is getting aggitated. This is true for all pets, but especially dogs, as dog bites or attacks can be extremely dangerious. Like kids are taught fire and other safety drills at school, show them what to do should they be attacked by a dog. This is actually good information for every child to have, because it may be needed someday due to a strange dog in a park or neighborhood.

If a child is attacked by a dog, they should roll in a tight ball, and protect their hands and face, yelling for help, instead of running and screaming. Further information on this can be researched as well.

Train your dog to obey the word "stop" and allow the child to issue the command, teaching how and when to use it. Teach your child that both the pet and child have the right to stop play time when either feels like it. If the animal starts to withdraw and shows signs of being done, teach your child to respect that and give the pet space.

Letting your child take age-appropriate chores related to caring for the pet, fosters compassion and responsibility for the child. It also helps them bond. Tips such as how to care for your pet bunny rabbit, or whatever type of pet you own should be researched so you are teaching accurate information in regards to pet care basics. Should a kid neglect the pet care chores, issue age appropriate consequences, but do not threaten to get rid of the pet. They might withdraw even more from the pet if they fear it may be taken from them, this can be very emotionally painful. There are better consequences. Don't let the pet pay the price either, by simply neglecting it until the child does feed it, etc. Intervene on this issue, for both their sakes.

Instruct your child to stay calm and quiet when interacting with the pet, to not scream or yell, as it can scare the animal. Teach them traits of how to pet the animal with gentleness, and not to poke fingers in eyes and ears, or mouth. Train them not to pull trails, and if you allow the child to hold the animal, how to propely hold it that will protect both.

Depending on what type of animal you have, demonstrate to your youngster how they can train their pet tricks. Affirm the child by showing the pet's body language that is responding to love. If the child is young, they should not be left alone with their pets. Too many accidents have occured for both the child and the pet by this practice. If a child accidently hurts the pet, those guilt feelings can remain for a lifetime.

Be diligent when your child has friends over. It may be too overwhelming for the animal, and other children may not have been taught to be gentle.

Pet ownership ultimately is the parent's responsibility to ensure that proper care is given to both the child, but also to the pet as well. Some may find its simply too much responsibility and life is too busy to add one more thing. That is ok, it is good to know a person's limits and not take on too much. Children can also get the joy of animals by visiting zoos, petting farms and the life, without necessarily owning a pet.


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Valerie Garner is a writer and photographer with a passion to assist families reduce stress levels and raise the joy of life. Visit today for more information Care For Your Pet Bunny Rabbit and The Comfortable Life - Resources for Work Life Balance Issues