How To Teach Your Children To Care For Pets
You're finally happy that you’ve gotten that family pet that you and your children have always wanted. A pet can be a wonderful experience for children, teaching them about responsibility, love and how to care for another living thing. But it can take some work from you to teach children how to care for pets. It’s the elders responsibility to do so.
How to do so! Here are few hints for the same.
First: Talk to your child about their responsibilities regarding the pet. Decide with your child what your child's chores will be when caring for the pet. Be willing to negotiate and compromise. Perhaps you will take care of cleaning up after the pet, if your children take care of feeding and watering the pet.
Second: Make sure your children's chores are age appropriate. A 5-year-old child may be able to help you clean a hamster cage, but they won't be able to do it on their own.
Third: Make up a pet care chart that clearly explains your child's chores. Whenever your children take care of a chore, check off a box or put a sticker on the chore chart. Give them a prize, such as a movie out or a pizza night whenever they get a certain amount of stickers or checks.
Fourth: Teach children the benefits of having pets. Not only should they have the responsibilities associated with pets, but they should have the joys too. Teach young children how to pet dogs and cats and show them how to hold smaller animals such as guinea pigs and hamsters. Teach children to be gentle around the pet so your pet doesn't fear your child. Allow children to feed, train, give treats and play with the pets so your pets become bonded to the children and not only to you.
Fifth: Expect to remind your children of their responsibilities in caring for the pet. In a perfect world, you would not have to remind your children over and over again to do their chores, but children need the repetition. Expect to have to remind them, but don't expect to have to do the chore yourself, unless your children are very young.
*Always remember, A pet that has gone through some training will be easier for your child to care for.
Second: Make sure your children's chores are age appropriate. A 5-year-old child may be able to help you clean a hamster cage, but they won't be able to do it on their own.
Third: Make up a pet care chart that clearly explains your child's chores. Whenever your children take care of a chore, check off a box or put a sticker on the chore chart. Give them a prize, such as a movie out or a pizza night whenever they get a certain amount of stickers or checks.
Fourth: Teach children the benefits of having pets. Not only should they have the responsibilities associated with pets, but they should have the joys too. Teach young children how to pet dogs and cats and show them how to hold smaller animals such as guinea pigs and hamsters. Teach children to be gentle around the pet so your pet doesn't fear your child. Allow children to feed, train, give treats and play with the pets so your pets become bonded to the children and not only to you.
Fifth: Expect to remind your children of their responsibilities in caring for the pet. In a perfect world, you would not have to remind your children over and over again to do their chores, but children need the repetition. Expect to have to remind them, but don't expect to have to do the chore yourself, unless your children are very young.
*Always remember, A pet that has gone through some training will be easier for your child to care for.
Kids and Pets Interaction Guide A guide to ages and species.
www.aspca.org
Infants
Primary Issues: Introduction to current pets
Recommend: N/A
Tasks for the Child: N/A
Other Observations: Resident dogs and cats need gradual, supervised introduction to infants.
Toddler
Primary Issues: Curiosity; pulling, touching, etc.
Recommend: N/A
Tasks for the Child: N/A
Other Observations: Care must be taken with dog food dishes, toys; litter boxes for cats; aquarium wires.
3-5 Years Primary Issues: Learning about contact, empathy.
Recommend: Guinea Pig
Tasks for the Child: Filling water bottle and food dish
Other Observations: Guinea pigs like to be held, seldom bite and will whistle when excited or happy.
5-10 Years Primary Issues: Attention span is variable
Recommend: Shelf pets or goldfish
Tasks for the Child: Clean cages with adult help, supervised play with dogs/cats
Other Observations: Adults should always check to ensure that pets have food/water and cages are secured.
10-13 Years Primary Issues: Greater interest in pets and capacity for responsibility
Recommend: Dogs, Cats, Rabbits
Tasks for the Child: Feed pet; walk dog; clean rabbit cage; clean cat litter
Other Observations: Children this age can be reliable, but adults should always check on food/water, etc. Participation in dog training classes are an excellent learning opportunity for children.
14-17 Years Primary Issues: Competition for time and attention (i.e. Sports, clubs, etc.)
Recommend: Birds, Aquariums
Tasks for the Child: Most tasks. Use allowance to buy treats, etc.
Other Observations: Developing interest as a fancier, more likely to do research or read about the species. Parents should note that dogs and cats acquired at this age will probably stay in the home when the child leaves for college, etc.
Guide by Stephen Zawistowski, Ph.D, ASPCA Executive Vice President of National Programs.
Source
Primary Issues: Introduction to current pets
Recommend: N/A
Tasks for the Child: N/A
Other Observations: Resident dogs and cats need gradual, supervised introduction to infants.
Toddler
Primary Issues: Curiosity; pulling, touching, etc.
Recommend: N/A
Tasks for the Child: N/A
Other Observations: Care must be taken with dog food dishes, toys; litter boxes for cats; aquarium wires.
3-5 Years Primary Issues: Learning about contact, empathy.
Recommend: Guinea Pig
Tasks for the Child: Filling water bottle and food dish
Other Observations: Guinea pigs like to be held, seldom bite and will whistle when excited or happy.
5-10 Years Primary Issues: Attention span is variable
Recommend: Shelf pets or goldfish
Tasks for the Child: Clean cages with adult help, supervised play with dogs/cats
Other Observations: Adults should always check to ensure that pets have food/water and cages are secured.
10-13 Years Primary Issues: Greater interest in pets and capacity for responsibility
Recommend: Dogs, Cats, Rabbits
Tasks for the Child: Feed pet; walk dog; clean rabbit cage; clean cat litter
Other Observations: Children this age can be reliable, but adults should always check on food/water, etc. Participation in dog training classes are an excellent learning opportunity for children.
14-17 Years Primary Issues: Competition for time and attention (i.e. Sports, clubs, etc.)
Recommend: Birds, Aquariums
Tasks for the Child: Most tasks. Use allowance to buy treats, etc.
Other Observations: Developing interest as a fancier, more likely to do research or read about the species. Parents should note that dogs and cats acquired at this age will probably stay in the home when the child leaves for college, etc.
Guide by Stephen Zawistowski, Ph.D, ASPCA Executive Vice President of National Programs.
Source
