Pets for children: which ones are best suited?

Do you have children and are you thinking of bringing an animal into the house ? Here are the most suitable pets for children and their characteristics.

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Having a child who insistently asks to have a pet in the house is a pretty common thing. This desire can come from an early age but this should not upset the parents. It is true that having a pet involves responsibility and a lot of commitment, but it is certainly a unique experience, extremely motivating and can bring numerous benefits not only to children but to the whole family

In fact, it is widely recognized that pets are excellent life companions that bring companionship and joy, increase self-esteem, teach respect and commitment and offer the opportunity to teach children the responsibility of caring for each other. Furthermore, pets can have an important therapeutic effect especially on children who are facing difficulties. What this is not just.

Choosing a pet

Choosing the most suitable pet for the child and for the whole family must be done carefully. One of the things to consider are, for example, the size of the animal which should be commensurate with the environment in which it will have to live.
Also you should take into consideration the temperament of the pet, the age and character of the children and last but not least the type of pet the child wants. Satisfying him, where possible but without giving in to whims, is the best way to start this new experience.

Pets for children: which ones are best suited?

Certainly dogs and cats are the most desired pets by children.

The dog

The dog in particular is the life and play partner par excellence . He is an extraordinarily social animal, he constantly seeks human company, you can teach him many things, you can share long walks with him, play ball throwing, have fun brushing them and much more.

However, it is an animal that needs to be looked after : it requires two or three daily walks, it is necessary to clean the house often, collect its “needs”, have a place for it during the holidays, take it to the vet, educate it, devote attention and time to many years. All of these are responsibilities that a small child cannot assume, so it is the parents who, in principle, must bear them. However, this will not be a burden at all, but it will become a pleasant routine  (and someone who has always had a dog in her life tells you so).

The cat

The cat tends to be a more independent and less demanding animal than the dog. You don’t need to take him for walks and he can be left alone at home (provided he is used to using the litter box).

The cat can also be very affectionate and constantly seek the company of its owner. But it is an animal that does not tolerate rough treatment and requires delicacy and respect . In fact, the cat can be caressed, it really likes to play and snuggle up next to its owner but always respecting his wishes. When a cat doesn’t want to play or doesn’t want to be petted or held, it may be best to leave it alone. Children need to be educated about this.

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Other children’s pets

Dogs and cats are obviously not the only choice to make if you want to have a pet. For example, if there are people allergic to cat hair in the family or dogs cannot be kept, you can think of keeping birds, rabbits, small rodents, fish, turtles or farmyard animals at home if you are lucky enough to have any. one.

Fish

Keeping fish at home is very popular with children who love to watch them swim around. Their colorful body and light movements are certainly a captivating and very attractive feature for children even if physical contacts are not possible. Fish do not require much effort (children really like to feed them) but care must be taken that the aquarium or container in which they live is clean and with the right PH value.

The birds

Even baby birds are suitable pets for children. They are rather easy to keep in terms of care even if it is still important to always guarantee food, water and cleanliness of the cage. These tasks can be easy even for kids.
However with birds it is difficult to have physical contact and practically impossible to share moments of play . Therefore, especially small children, may lose interest in the animal over time. Instead, it is important, especially for children who are fascinated by birds, to involve and encourage them to read and become interested in how to care for them.

Rabbits and small rodents

Rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and other small lagomorphs and rodents are good choices as pets for children. Being friendly and having hair like cats and dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters are also soft and can be pleasantly stroked . The downside is that they don’t live long enough and interacting with them isn’t always easy. In fact, if they are not taken in the correct way, they could bite and moreover, being small animals, it is easier to hurt them.

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The opinion of the expert

In conclusion, in terms of pets for children, I asked an expert like Elisa Bertoldi (whom I thank), founder of miciogatto.it, one of the most dynamic and lively communities on the web, for an opinion and asked a few questions.

Are there any species of animals that are more suitable for children?

“I believe that with common sense all animals are suitable for children . It is necessary to be able to evaluate the danger of an animal towards a child who, due to his nature, does not have the cognitive ability to understand the animal’s limits.
Every child must be educated to know the specific animal and the parent has the task of teaching what to do and what not to do in compliance with the ethology of that species.”

And for dogs and cats?

«In theory, there are no dog breeds that are more dangerous than others towards children, there are children left to play, perhaps without supervision, without giving them a limit or teaching them what the dog can tolerate or not.
This also applies to the cat, or to other animals: all animals are potentially dangerous. Even a small cat, for example, if it pulls out its claws and teeth, can easily injure even a child seriously, but also an adult.»

So what is the prerequisite for a happy coexistence?

«The prerequisite for a happy coexistence is mutual knowledge. A parent has the task of teaching the child how to move and what not to do in order not to disturb their pet and cause defense reactions that can be dangerous for the child.
Each animal species can be a profound wealth for a child : from the relationship with animals a child learns to be empathetic, learns to communicate without words, but with gestures, looks, emotions.
The child learns to take care of a being different from him, to understand his needs, to take care of him without necessarily expecting a reward, but out of pure love»