Owning a pet 'helps children develop'

Wednesday, 3 March 2010 14:30

Owning a pet dog, cat or even a hamster or fish helps children to develop key skills for life.

They can teach children valuable lessons that will carry them through the rest of their lives. Owning a pet teaches children how to be responsible for another creature which needs feeding, cleaning and exercise, a recent article in the Himalayan Times highlighted.

In the US, a study of 394 university students showed those who grew up with a pet cat or dog had more confidence than those who did not, reports the Ontario Veterinary Medicine Association (OVMA).

The OVMA also found a second study in America revealed that children aged 11 to 16 years old with pets at home had an increased understanding of non-verbal communication than their peers without pets. Similarly, those with pets appeared to be less stressed during examination periods.

Pets can also teach children how to cope with death. For many, the death of a pet will be one of their first experiences of this and it prepares them for future deaths within the family.

Animal Friends are a specialist pet insurance company providing dog insurance and cat insurance to British pet owners since 1999 and we now offer horse insurance too.

Posted by Elaine