How a Family Pet Benefits Kids
Pets Reduce Allergies, Build Self Esteem and Provide Companionship
Feb 7, 2009
Many families include a dog, cat, fish or bird, but how do these pets impact children as they are growing? Research has shown that interacting with a family pet or two can decrease the incidence of allergies, improve self-esteem and compassion and provides additional affection and companionship for children.
Pets and Childhood Allergies
First-time parents preparing to bring their baby home from the hospital may worry that they need to find another home for their two dogs or cats in order to prevent their child from developing allergies to the animal's dander. In fact, it appears the opposite is true. Researcher Dr. Dennis Ownby published a study, "Pets Halt Allergies in Infants", in the August 2002 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, which shows that children who grow up in households with two or more pets have a lower incidence of allergies than children who were raised in homes with only one or no pets.
It appears that when children are exposed to pets during the first year of life, bacteria from the pet's mouths strengthen the child's immune system while it is actively developing, which can protect them from developing allergies later in childhood.
Pets and Children's Self-Esteem
Caring for a family pet is often one of the first introductions a child has to nurturing another living thing, and learning how to think about the pet's needs and feelings is a good way for children to learn about putting themselves in another person's shoes. Being responsible for feeding and walking a dog can also give a child a feeling of importance and worth in the family, as well as teaching him about being responsible for attending to another creature's needs.
Dr. Sue Doescher, a researcher at Oregon State University, studied preschool children who were taught how to care for a puppy. She found that the children were more cooperative and better at sharing because learning how to think about the puppy's needs can then be transferred to thinking about other children's feelings.
Pets Provide Companionship and Affection
Most families have pets because of the companionship and affection that dogs and cats provide. In today's busy world it can be a relief to come home to a dog who loves you unconditionally. The same is true for children, especially children who have troubled relationships with their parents and family members. Dr. Yolande Michaels, a psychologist in Venice, California, has found that family pets help children soothe themselves when they are upset and they feel they can't go to their parents for support.
Having a family pet is a big responsibility, and it is important to make sure that your pets are safe around children. Pets can also be a wonderful source of self-esteem, companionship and an opportunity for children to learn responsible and caring behavior, as well as helping to reduce childhood allergies.
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