A Child's First Pet

Being a parent means teaching children responsibility. Many parents choose to teach their kids how to become responsible adults by making them care for their bedrooms, teaching them to pitch in around the house, signing them up for clubs and sports and teaching them good manners. They allow them to choose their own clothes, clean their own rooms and they give them the freedom to do their homework right after school or just before dinner so long as it’s finished by a specific time. No one child is just like another, which is why many parents choose to teach responsibility in different ways. Some choose to get their children small pets that teach valuable life lessons. Maybe your kids are asking for a puppy or a kitten, and your concern is that they’re not responsible enough for the type of care needed by an animal such as this. That’s where ‘first’ pets come in handy. These small animals are perfect for younger kids who need to learn to care properly for animals before they get an animal that lives years and requires a great deal more effort and energy.

A child’s first pet is one he or she will remember forever, and it’s a pet that will make a significant impact on the life of your child. First pets teach your kids more than just love and affection; they teach kids the value of hard work, commitment and dedication. The benefits of allowing your kids to have a first pet are endless, and we can name a few that might help you make the decision to give your kids a pet just a bit easier.

Trust

Not many people consider the benefits of giving kids a pet when it comes to trust. Not only are you showing your kids you trust them to care for an animal, you’re providing your kids with someone in whom they can trust. Kids will absolutely talk to their pets. They will learn that their pets aren’t telling their secrets, and they will learn the value of trust from this animal, from you and from themselves.

Compassion

When a child is in control of the needs of another, he or she is going to learn a valuable lesson on compassion. They will learn to provide attention, to feed their pet and to give their pet the kind of love and attention that it needs to survive. This is a lesson they will take with them as they grow up, applying it to friends and family members, other pets and even those they do not know personally.

Responsibility

There is no lesson greater than responsibility when it comes to kids and their pets. What’s amazing about pets is that they teach this lesson rather quickly, and it is not one your kids are likely to soon forget. Responsibility comes in the form of feeding, cleaning and caring for animals. If they do not take care of these responsibilities, there are serious consequences. And while you do not want your child’s animal to die if your kids are not responsible, you certainly can issue a warning that you will find a new home for a pet your children are not taking care of properly. It’s a quick motivator, and it’s something that your kids will learn faster than you might think.

Respect

Kids, especially younger children, are not always gentle in their actions or their words. They can be too quick, too rough and not quite respectful enough. However, when they are given a life to care for, it’s amazing how quickly they learn to become more gentle and more respectful. Your kids will pick this up and begin to apply this lesson in other areas of their lives, and they will be better people for it.

Loyalty

When you have someone or something to care for, you learn a lot about loyalty. You learn what it means to care for someone, to be there for someone and to put their needs first. This is a great lesson for kids and it’s one that they will grow to understand when they are responsible for a pet of their own. It’s something you can talk to your kids about, but experience is almost always a more meaningful teacher.

Patience

Animals are not performing monkeys (pun intended). They are animals; and they kind of just do what they want when they want. A child is going to learn a lot about patience since animals are not prone to giving into demands and temper tantrums. They’re going to come out when they want, and they’re not going to allow kids to rule their lives. This is going to teach kids a great deal about patience.

Great First Pets

Now that you know how much your kids can benefit from a pet of their own, you might wonder what kind of pet is a good starting point. A cat or a dog might seem obvious, but they are not always the best choice for a first pet. Sometimes it’s far better to start small with a pet that might not live quite so long, one that is a bit more resilient and one that will require a little less care than a larger animal.

Hamsters – These do make good first pets, but it is important you understand a few things. Small hamsters are a bit more aggressive, and they can be biters. It’s recommended that you choose a large hamster as a first pet. Understand that these animals live approximately 3 years, which might be a long time for a child. However, these are animals that sometimes don’t live as long, which can be a very good lesson on death for your children.

Lizards – There are many varieties that all have different needs and requirements. Some live a long time, others not so much. Some are more difficult to handle than others, and some require very little interaction and care to live. You can check them out and see which one is right for your kids.

Fish – If you choose goldfish, you might have them anywhere from five years and on. It might seem like a long time considering the fact that the fish kids win at carnivals and festivals live only a few days or a few weeks, but that’s just the luck of the draw. Fish are very low-maintenance and require very little care. They need occasional tank cleaning, feeding and they cannot be handled. This might make them a wonderful first pet for your kids.

Guinea Pigs – They are bigger than hamsters ,and they are also a lot friendlier animals. They are very sociable and enjoy being held and played with. They do live around 5 to 7 years on average, so they are a bit of a commitment – though far less than a dog or cat. They’re less aggressive than hamsters, but they are a lot more work to care for than other animals.

Rabbits – These are animals that do require a very specific diet. They have needs that will require a bit of adult supervision to keep them healthy, but they are great for kids. They can be trained to use litter, they can be played with and they are very friendly animals that might make your kids feel very comfortable. They live around 8 years.