Dad Tip of the Day: Pets

Dad Tip of the Day: Adding a pet animal to your family can have a number of benefits for kids.

Growing up, my family had a dog and some fish in tank, but no other pets. I have always been a bit “pet averse” as they can be a lot of work and are an extra responsibility one must handle – personally, I like to keep things simple. I like the flexibility of being pet-less, but the downside is that we miss out on the benefits of being a pet owner – love from the animal and the fun things you can do with your animals.

As my kids are growing and starting to have more opinions, they are starting to ask about pets – mostly a cat or a dog. I am hesitant, so this post is also for me, as I need to be convinced the time, energy, money and added responsibilities are worth it.

I found a good article online that talks about the benefits of kids having pets: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-benefits-of-children-growing-up-with-pets_n_7013398

• Pets give unconditional love

• A pet can teach a child he doesn’t have to take out his/her anger or fear on others

• A pet can teach empathy

• A pet can teach confidence and responsibility

• Animals can help socialize children and increase verbal skills

• Pets can be therapeutic

The question becomes, do the benefits outweigh the negatives (or perceived negatives). Perhaps it does, and perhaps it is time for me to consider adding a pet to our family – what should we add?

Thanks for coming by today,

Brian