Whether to get a pet for a child

Most children dream of having pets. They sincerely want to love and take care of animals, be friends with them and play. One of the most popular requests to Santa Claus is to give a puppy or a kitten for the New Year. 

Is it worth doing this? Can a living being act as a gift? What you need to know before buying a pet? Read about this in our article. 

Animals are not a gift!How cute the ads in social networks look: "I will buy or take a pet for my children."

Their authors are genuinely surprised why people write negative comments in response and advise it is better to buy a soft toy. 

It would seem that there is nothing wrong with fulfilling a child's dream and giving him a pet. Especially if the child himself has been asking for it for a long time and insistently, promises to take care of and take care of the pet. And parents seem to be serious people who will not leave an animal in trouble.

Unfortunately, enthusiasm passes very quickly. A child may enjoy the appearance of a tailed friend for several months, but then he will most likely get tired of messing with him.

Gradually, all the worries will be shifted to the shoulders of mom or dad. And those are not always ready to shoulder the burden of responsibility for another family member.Also read: How to teach a child to household dutiesBuying pets specifically for children is almost a 100% chance that pets become unnecessary over time.

At best, they find a new home for them, and at worst, they throw them out on the street. 

The only true motive for acquiring a pet is an informed choice of adult family members.

Yes, the purchase can be timed to coincide with a children's holiday. But parents should keep absolutely all aspects of this venture under control (including the choice of the type of animal and breed), and also realize that they will be the main owners of the pet.Why do children need pets

Not just a new inhabitant appears in the house, but a real friend and favorite of the whole family.

How exactly will a pet be useful for a child:

1. Games and communication. Children forget about loneliness and boredom when playing with pets. They are interesting to watch and you can entrust the most intimate secrets.
2. Development. Pet care teaches diligence and concentration. Children develop emotionally, feeling their importance and the degree of responsibility for a living being.
3. Inspiration. Funny animals are an inexhaustible source of inspiration. Children draw them, photograph them, describe them in poetry and even sculpt them out of plasticine.
4. Moral standards. It is animals that teach people compassion, empathy and unconditional love.
5. Vaccination against selfishness. The child learns to share the attention and love of parents with other family members, even if fluffy and tailed.
6. Health. In families where dogs live, children are 31% less likely to suffer from upper respiratory tract infections. Daily walks with four-legged strengthen the immune system, harden the body and help to realize excess energy.

Find out what needs your child must necessarily be satisfied in order for him to grow up emotionally healthy - at Dmitry Karpachev's transplant-free online master class "What every parent should know". What is important to remember when buying an animal

The appearance of a pet in an apartment is not a temporary fun for adults or children, but an expansion of the family.

Prepare the child for this. The first days after the arrival of the pet are adaptive. Both people and animals will get used to the new way of life. Besides, for the latter, moving to a new house is already stressful.

1. Tell your child what you can and cannot do. For example, you can not drag by the ears and tail, beat, kick, shout in the ear of an animal, forcibly wrap in a blanket, attach toys to the tail, and so on. No bullying! 
2. Try to choose an animal with a character as similar as possible to the character of your child. It's not easy to do, but it's real. For example, a phlegmatic person will enthusiastically watch a snail akhatina or a turtle, and a sanguine person will quickly get tired of such a pet.
3. Explain that in the first days the dog or cat will behave atypically. The animal is scared, is in an unfamiliar territory, its toilet is in an unusual place, so there may be misfires. Don't let it shock your child.
4. Warn that the animal obeys its biorhythms and can sometimes behave strangely. For example, cats run around the apartment in the middle of the night and meow loudly, a dog can howl, and a guinea pig can start swarming in a cage. This should not frighten or annoy the child, these are the conditions of coexistence with a pet.
5. When a pet gets sick, adults will need to pay enough attention to the treatment and care of him. The child should not be jealous or capricious about this.

Allergic reactions and diseasesThe purchase of an animal involves certain risks.

Each species and even breed has its own. Let's focus on those that are most common.

Allergy to wool, saliva, food Before taking a pet, you need to take allergy tests.

And not only to the child, but also to all family members. It is worth knowing that sensitization may not occur immediately, but, say, after 2-3 months. Therefore, to be safe, you need to discuss with the breeder / seller the procedure for returning the animal. Otherwise, if an allergy occurs, you will have to attach your pet yourself.

How does allergy to animals manifest itself:Sneezing, tearfulness.

• Nasal congestion, prolonged runny nose.
• Shortness of breath, hoarseness.
• Coughing fits.
• Contact dermatitis.

There is also a more dangerous reaction — Quincke's edema. It develops instantly and manifests itself in the form of swelling of the soft tissues of the face and neck. In this case, the pet may pose a threat to the life of the child, which means that you need to immediately separate them into different rooms and find another place of residence for the pet. 

HelminthsDespite numerous myths, parasites of dogs or cats are completely harmless to humans.

Each species has its own, so it is unrealistic to get infected with worms from four-legged friends. 

However, there is still a danger. Worm eggs may be present on the fur and paws of an animal that walks down the street. Stroking a pet, and then picking up an apple, the child risks getting a whole set of invasive species:

• ecinococci;
• askarid;
• alveococcus;
• toxocars , etc .

To minimize the risk of infection with worms, you need to carefully monitor the hygiene of the pet and the hands of all family members. It is undesirable to sleep with a dog or a cat that walks on the street in the same bed. 

What kind of pet to have for a childThe most familiar types of apartment dwellers are dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs.

Residents of aquariums get along well with children — fish, crustaceans, reptiles, snails. If you like fluffy animals, then the best option is a chinchilla, a hamster, a guinea pig or a rat. 

Non—trivial choice - iguana, snake, turtle, chameleon. But they will have to be taken care of: the problem is not to get such an animal, but to keep it, to know what to feed and what medicine to give, how to establish contact with the child, etc. 

More familiar, but no less interesting pets are birds (parrots, canaries).Choosing a breed

Let's consider the nuances of choosing a breed on the example of dogs.

If the care and upbringing of a pet is taken over by one of the adults, then in principle the breed can be any. But with an eye on the temperament of a four-legged friend. 

Read the descriptions of different dogs, paying attention to the section "Communication with children". The best breeds in this regard (nanny dogs):

• Spaniel.
• French and English bulldogs.
• Welsh corgi. 
• Labradors.

They quickly find contact with the kids, condescendingly tolerate their pranks, are very sensitive to their little owners. 

There are also breeds that don't always get along with children:Akita.

• Husky.
• Pekingese.
• Toy terrier.

The reasons for the unfriendly attitude of dogs to small owners are different. Some are too active, others are too timid, others are jealous of the main owner and do not want to share his love with someone else. Some disadvantages of the breed can be compensated by training. But still, do not miss this criterion for choosing an animal that you plan to give to a child.

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Watching pets is very exciting. Their habits, habits, funny poses are an endless reason for jokes and affection, their love is the most faithful and sincere. All this more than compensates for the time and money spent on care. In addition, the happiness of a child who dreams of a pet will be truly limitless. Make up your mind! December 9th, 2020 2022-11-26 2020-12-09 Rate the article on a 5-point scale Did you like the article?