There’s no doubt that parenting is indeed a demanding job filled with endless responsibilities. And if that is really so, why would anyone voluntarily sign-up for more duties by adopting a pet?
Sounds counterintuitive; we know that. But what of we at Excelsior American School, one of the top schools in Gurgaon, tell you that getting a pet can actually help you better perform your duties of raising responsible, empathetic, and confident kids? Yes, that’s right!
There are plenty of hidden benefits of bringing a fur baby for your children. Trust us when we say that getting a pet for your child can significantly help your kids inculcate personal growth skills, especially in their formative years. So, just in case you always wanted a pet dog or cat during your childhood days but couldn’t because of any reason, now is the time to fulfill this forgotten dream. Getting a pet can help your kids develop crucial skills while also helping you lower some of your responsibilities.
We know many of you are skeptical of adopting a pet, but this article will help you understand why this step can be a game changer in your parenting journey. If you’re curious to know how, let’s quickly look at some hidden benefits of getting a pet for your child shared below.
· Fosters Responsibility and Empathy
A pet’s presence is magical and can influence the growth trajectory of your child. Whether you get a cat or dog, or any other pet for your little one, they provide ample opportunities for your child to develop empathy and responsibility meaningfully and tangibly. Once you have a pet, ask your kids to look after their eating, grooming, and other relevant responsibilities. Over a period, they will get attuned to these duties, learning the art of nurturing a living being.
The entire process will instill empathy and responsibility in them, which will slowly start extending beyond pets to encompass their family, friends, and acquaintances. Instances like giving food at predetermined intervals and petting them might look insignificant, but they have tremendous influence at a psychological level.
· Lowers Stress and Increases Emotional Support
Contrary to the commonly believed myth, getting pets don’t add to your stress by increasing responsibilities. In fact, they take away a significant fraction of your and your kid’s stress by providing emotional support. Animals are highly intuitive, so they can easily sense and respond to various human emotions, like sadness, anger, anxiousness, etc. Their simple responses can make their companionship a lot more comforting, leading to reduced stress.
Science has also proved the same. Spending time with pets can trigger the release of a ‘bonding’ hormone called oxytocin. When released in adequate amounts, this hormone aids stress reduction and improves emotional connection. School in Gurgaon This bonding and connection can be incredibly helpful and therapeutic when your kids are going through turmoil.
· Builds Routine and Strong Discipline
Pets are adorable, but their healthy living involves a strict routine. So when you introduce a pet to your family, make your kids responsible for keeping up with their feeding, exercising, grooming, and other needs. Set a time for their meals, walks, salon visits, etc., and hand over the responsibility to your kids. Initially, they might skip a task or two, but with constant monitoring and encouragement, they will develop a strong sense of discipline and start following a routine.
If you have a park nearby, ask your kids to take their pets for a morning walk regularly. Show them where their food is kept while instructing them how much food to give. Start with giving lesser responsibilities, and increase as they adapt the previous ones into their daily routine. This aspect will soon influence their other life areas as well, where kids will start following a healthy and disciplined life to achieve their academic and personal goals too!
· Promotes Cognitive Development
An important point that we at Excelsior American School, ranked among the Best schools in Gurgaon, would like to mention here is that pets do not just help instill empathy and responsibility in kids but also help boost their cognitive development. After talking to many families with pet(s), we found children tasked to look after their pet’s well-being develop better problem-solving and critical thinking skills. By effectively learning to care for their furry companion, kids embark on a transformative journey full of thoughtful analysis and observation.
For example, while caring for a pet, kids learn to observe and understand the pet’s body language. They use cues like wagging tails, lowered ears, etc., to decode their pet’s behaviors. This analytical process builds on their cognitive ability enabling them to comprehend non-verbal communication, which can also be used to navigate human interactions.
Conclusion
When it comes to introducing a pet as a new family member, people often picture fluffy cuddles, adorable antics, wagging tails, and selfless companionship. In the midst, people tend to overlook the benefits the pets bring into their lives by accelerating their kid’s overall growth. If you want your kids to become compassionate, disciplined, and well-rounded adults in the future, getting them a pet during their early formative years can be an excellent choice. However, always remember to train your pets and educate your children about pets. This is necessary to ensure that your kids enjoy as well as benefit from the companionship of your pet to the fullest.
