They say dogs are man’s best friend, but it turns out they’re also babies’ best friend. There are lots of reasons you should consider bringing a pet into your home if you have kids, especially one of the furry, four-legged varieties (but any pet is great!).
Believe it or not, the benefits of raising your children with pets go beyond being able to take adorable photos and videos of your little ones snuggling with your dog or cat, (although we can’t deny that’s a big one).
Here are the top reasons why having a pet is good for your child’s physical health, mental health, and more!
Pets Reduce Stress And Lower Blood Pressure
It’s probably not something you consider when searching for a pet, but spending time with animals can lower your blood pressure and relieve stress. All it takes is 15 minutes of playtime or petting to lower your blood pressure by 10 percent, according to a study from Tombola (via Woodland Animal Hospital).
Life can be stressful for adults and children alike, and all types of pets, from dogs to rabbits to snakes, can provide emotional support and calming energy that is tangibly better for your mental and physical health.
Owning Pets Teaches Compassion And Empathy For Other Living Things
According to the American Kennel Club, “Multiple studies showed that children who owned pets were more empathetic towards others.” Caring for any animal means learning its personality, recognizing its needs, and nurturing its existence holistically. This means giving it tons of love, feeding it the best, most nutritious diet, and providing it with all the materials it needs to live a comfortable life as part of the family.
Family dynamics between kids and their parents and siblings are very unique. Relationships with pets are similarly one-of-a-kind. There’s simply no replicating the lessons about empathy and compassion that kids can learn about caring for a being that depends on you in such a profound way.
Exposure To Animals, Especially Furry Ones, Prevents Allergies And Asthma
The health benefits of owning pets don’t end with lower blood pressure and reduced stress. A 2017 study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that “children exposed to high indoor levels of pet or pest allergens during infancy have a lower risk of asthma by 7 years of age.” As of 2017, asthma affected 8 percent of children in the United States.
Another study from the Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology found that exposure to pets — notably cats and dogs — can also prevent or lessen the severity of subsequent allergies to animals, “not only in children but also in young adults.” These physical health benefits are definitely something to consider when deciding whether to bring a pet (or two…or five!) into your home.
Pets Keep The Doctor Away
The health benefits of having pets in your family’s home keep coming. In 2012, a Finnish study published in Pediatrics found that babies regularly exposed to dogs or cats — but especially dogs — were healthier overall and less likely to suffer from coughs and ear infections in addition to allergies and asthma.
Researchers concluded that the more a child has contact with a cat or a dog throughout their infancy, the more developed their immune system, and the more they are able to stay healthy and avoid common childhood ailments.
Dogs Get Kids Active And Outside
This may not be true for all pets — fish, turtles, frogs, hamsters, etc. tend to be indoor pets. But caring for and playing with a dog is a fantastic way to get your kid out of the house, into the fresh air, and running around.
A lot of life happens inside these days, but your dog has to leave the house, at least to do their business, multiple times a day. Depending on the type of pup you have, they also require exercise. It’s amazing what spending even 10 minutes throwing a ball to Mr. Muffins in the yard can do for a kid — physical activity is extremely beneficial for kids’ mental health and well-being.
Pets Teach Responsibility
Between feeding, grooming, vet care, regular walks and exercise, love and affection, and more, humans are responsible for a lot when it comes to our pets. Having an animal is a great way to teach your kid what it means to have serious responsibility.
Sure, walking the dog at night can easily become a game of “Not it!” among family members, but when you have an animal in your care, it’s clear to your kids that no matter what, that animal needs you. This leads us to our next item…
Pet Ownership Helps Kids Improve Self-Esteem.
One of the reasons dogs are considered man’s best friend is that they are eager to please and give their owner unconditional love. For a kid, a pup who is constantly excited to see them and happy to cuddle up next to them can only boost their self-esteem.
This may not be true of all pets (cats can be notoriously hot and cold), but in general, having an animal your kid loves who loves your kid back? There’s nothing better. As stated early, knowing that an animal relies on them, that they have a responsibility to take care of it, is also a self-esteem boost for a child.
Pets In The Household Teaches Respect And Honoring Boundaries
It’s extremely important for kids to learn to take the hint when an animal has had enough of an interaction, and regular exposure to a pet is a great way to build that intuition. Socializing with pets while respecting their boundaries is not only an important skill for encounters with animals, but it can also absolutely translate into their relationships with other people, kids and adults.
Learning to sense and respect someone else’s needs is part of the compassion and empathy we talked about before. Pets, in short, help build kids’ characters.
Pets Make Kids Happy
How can you not smile while being licked in the face by a puppy or squeaked affectionately by a guinea pig? Pets are a source of joy for kids and adults alike, and that’s just as important as the physical health and emotional benefits.
The American Kennel Club says that playing with a pet raises levels of serotonin and dopamine in children, which makes them feel calm and improves their mood.
It’s Adorable To Have Pets In A Home With Children
Have you ever seen a dog climb into a bouncer with their newborn human sibling? How about a cat and a baby dressed in matching Halloween costumes? A hamster that hangs out in a little kid’s pocket?
There is simply nothing cuter than a kid and their animal. Parents need dopamine hits, too, and one is pretty much guaranteed every time your pet and child interact.
