It is needless to say that parenting can be challenging. You need to find fun and exciting ways to trigger emotions in your kids, such as empathy and respect, especially towards those four-legged cuties. Yes, that’s right, we are talking about having family pets who have so much to offer their parents and friends, including unconditional love, joy, and some fun and memories one can cherish for years to come. In fact, these furry little friends help young children to unlock emotions such as responsibility and self-esteem.
So, if you are considering adding a pet to your family, it is essential to teach your kids some important stuff about what it is like and how important it is to make a responsible pet parent. Don’t worry! If you have no idea where to start, here are some tips that can help you lay a concrete foundation.
Give them a Do’s and Don’ts list
First, it is essential to tell your kids about what to do and what not to do around a family pet. For instance, you must tell them that they should NEVER hit or misbehave with their pet or tease them by pulling their hair or ears. Suppose you have a family dog, then the best way to start a friendship is to ask your child to greet him with love and smile and extend their hand to let the dog sniff for a while.
After you feel that they both are comfortable with each other, you can also include your child in some pet duties, such as taking him for a walk or feeding him food. Furthermore, if your child wants to be a part of the training sessions, don’t hesitate to pass on some tricks to show him/her how fun it is to train a family pet.
Make them a part of pet-proofing the home
Believe it or not, but pet-proofing your home or apartment is definitely as important as baby-proofing. Yes, that’s right! There could be potential hazards lurking in your home that could easily hurt your fur baby. For instance, suppose you are planning to get a cat, then it is important to make some changes around the home, such as putting up a fence in the backyard to make it a safe space for the little kitty. And involving your kid in the process will teach him/her about what can hurt their new friend.
You can also have a detailed session to teach your kid what appliances in the home are safe to use near a pet. And if you plan to get a new one for the house, make sure you keep your pet in mind before getting it. For example, If you want to get an electric fireplace installed in your home with a cat, then make sure you have all the answers to questions like”are electric fireplaces safe for cats?” Or “can you allow your cat near an electric fireplace?” It is indeed a good idea to get everything out in the open and eliminate all confusion in your child’s mind and ensure that your pet is safe with your child even without supervision.
Lastly,
Tell your child about the dietary habits of their new furry friend. This way, they won’t plan to feed the leftovers to the pet when they don’t feel like eating.
Getting a family pet is just like getting an early Christmas gift for your kids. They would love it, play with it, take care of it and cherish it for the rest of their lives. So, use the tips mentioned above and ensure that your newest family member is ALWAYS in good hands.
