Families and Pets
Over the years, human-animal interaction studies have shown that pets such as cats and dogs can have incredibly positive effects on all areas of child and teen development.
Pets and children: what a beautiful friendship. A 2003 study into the role
pets play in developing children’s social networks revealed a great deal about human-animal interactions. A number of children were asked who they would turn to in certain emotionally-charged situations – like the divorce of their parents or an argument with a sibling. An overwhelming majority said they would seek out their
pet for companionship. It was also discovered that children confide in their
pets, talking to them, expressing fears and emotions in much the same way we interact with a human confidante.
Kids love animals - and it seems the feeling is mutual. Pets can help facilitate learning and have a number of positive effects on a child’s development. Schools are now catching onto the benefits of introducing pet into their community, by creating pet clubs, special pet days and offering pet education programs. For children, pets at school foster a sense of responsibility and respect for life.
Programs like the ‘Operation Safe: Kids 'n' Pets’ run by the Animal Welfare League of New South Wales offers wonderful learning programs to teach all levels of school children about responsible pet ownership and animal behaviour. Topics include: pets in the community, the basics of pet care, what happens when people don’t want their pets and pets and the law.
Great news for teachers. Three schools in a UK study tracked children aged five to eleven years from both pet-owning families and non pet-owning families. The study found that children who had pets in the family attended school more regularly whilst children from non pet-owning families were absent due to illness more often.
Children who have contact with cats or dogs during the first year of their life may be less allergic later on. Researchers discovered that early exposure to pets is associated with a reduced risk of asthma and other allergies. Good grooming, hygiene and diet can reduce cat owners’asthma symptoms by up to 95 per cent.
Pet allergies can be triggered by ‘dander’ better known as tiny skin flakes which fall off cats and dogs.
Over 100 young cat owners aged 13 years and under were interviewed as part of a study at the University of Bonn in Germany. Some 80% said that their cat helped them get along better with their family and friends whilst a huge 81% said they would rather open up and talk about their feelings to their cat – rather than to parents or friends.
An astounding 90% of children consider their dog to be a true friend. They have a therapeutic effect on children who are experiencing a parental divorce. Dogs and cats have a calming effect on children, helping him or her to remain more socially integrated. Children without a pet demonstrated more negative behaviour such as stubbornness and irritability. Pets fill an emotional void for children in ‘divorce’situations and it’s clear why. Dogs and cats represent unconditional positive emotions for children; they provide a sense of responsibility and unlike the divorce situation itself – they pose no threat of conflict or disappointment.
