PETS KID-FRIENDLY PETS By Tresa Erickson Kids in general love animals, so it’s only natural that parents would want to bring a pet into their family. Some pets are better with kids than others, of course. Snakes, for example, generally do not make good pets for kids because of their size and strength. Dogs and cats, on the other hand, often make great pets for kids, especially more affectionate breeds. Following are some tips for selecting a kid-friendly pet and helping kids respect it. Of all the pets available, dogs and cats are often the best choices for kids. Dogs and cats tend to interact more with people and are more apt to put up with spirited kids. Some breeds do better with kids than others, so it pays to do your homework. Find out what breeds are considered kid friendly and focus on them. If you are adopting a pet from a shelter, ask the caretakers what the best choice would be for your household. You want a dog or cat with the temperament to deal with kids. If you’re looking for a pet that is a little less hands on, hamsters are ideal. Kids can get a great deal of enjoyment watching a hamster run around its cage, in and out of tunnels and around and around on the wheel. And, when kids are interested in a little cuddling time, the hamster can be removed from its cage and held in the hand for a bit of petting. Just make sure you supervise the activity, as hamsters will nip. While fun to watch, hamsters do not live a long time. Keep that in mind. You don’t want to traumatize your kids with the death of one hamster after another. For parents looking for a pet that is completely hands off but pure fun to watch, fish or turtles might fill the bill. An aquarium of colorful fish darting this way and that can keep kids entertained, as can a turtle moving around in its cage. Because they are so hands off, however, some kids can grow bored of their pet fish or turtle. Whatever pet you choose, you must teach your kids to respect it. Kids who respect animals tend to have fewer disastrous run-ins with them. Kids need to understand that pets are animals, and like them, they have preferences. Kids don’t like to be bothered when they are eating, drinking or sleeping, and neither do pets. Kids don’t like to be smacked or teased, and neither do pets. Kids don’t like their spaces to be invaded, and neither do pets. When teaching kids to deal with pets, supervision is crucial. Watch them carefully, especially when handling more delicate species like hamsters, kittens and puppies. Kids and pets can go hand in hand with the right teaching. Select a good kid-friendly pet for your household and teach your kids to treat it with care.
QC12172015
To see the actual publication please follow the link above