So your children want pets? Are they insisting on a kitten, puppy, at least a fish? You understand the commitment involved but do you have a list of pros and cons to help you make this decision?
Pros of owning pets:
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Teach responsibility
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Provide comfort and companionship
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Help with learning
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Encourage a healthy lifestyle
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Improve and build self-esteem
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Teaches circle of life
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They are so much fun!
Maybe it is easier to start with smaller pets, lesser maintenance and care requiring ones. Here is a short list of a few suggestions:
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Hamsters
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Guinea pigs
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Rabbits
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Hedgehogs
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Fish
You may not realize that one of the biggest benefits of pets is that they can help families grow stronger and closer. The pet becomes a part of the family unity and is usually involved in all the family activities. Even things such as taking a dog for a walk, playing with them in the backyard, or watching fish in their swim tanks becomes something everyone talks about. Sometimes having an entire family in the living room watching the dog do silly tricks is just the simple bonding time your family needs.
Having a pet has been proven to help children develop empathy, learn how to care for someone, establish their self esteem even. Their pet becomes their best friend, someone that is there to comfort them when they are down and snuggle when they are ecstatic. Raising your children alongside a pet becomes such a wholesome, special outlook on parenting.
And think of how much fun it is to have a furry pet as part of your family!