Is Your Child Ready...

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For A Pet

At some point during parenthood, your children will most likely ask you to buy them their very own pet. Taking care of an animal can be a rewarding and educational experience for any child but maturity levels can drastically vary between children in the same age group. If you agree without any hesitation, you run the risk of having to take on the responsibility of taking care of the animal yourself after the child loses interest. It may be beneficial to follow these suggestions to determine if your child is really ready to take on the obligation of the health and well-being of another living creature.

Determine the Motivation Behind Wanting a Pet
Ask your child point blank why they want the pet and evaluate their answer. “Because Susie has two gerbils” is not as convincing as “I would like first hand experience observing the social interaction between gerbils.” Granted the second response is not likely to fly out of any child’s mouth unless they’re the next Einstein, but you get the idea. If their motivation is based entirely on wanting a pet because all their friends have one, your child will be more likely to neglect the animal when the next hot elementary trend rolls around.

Make Them Do the Research
Give your child an assignment to write a report on the pet they want. Be sure to specify the areas they need to cover (i.e. diet, habitat, life expectancy, etc.) and give them a due date. If they are serious about wanting the pet, they’ll put in significant time at the library doing the research. Once they discover everything involved with taking care of the animal, they may decide on their own that they’re not ready to become pet owners.

Consider a Virtual Trial Run
There are numerous video games on the market today that provide simulated pet scenarios. This is a great way for your child to get their feet wet when it comes to the daily care that every pet needs. They get extra bonus points if the simulated pet is still alive and happy after a month or two.

Discuss Financial Responsibility
It is reasonable to suggest that your child contribute to the financial upkeep of the animal. You could withhold a portion of their weekly or monthly allowance to cover the expense of food, bedding, and toys the pet will need. Another option is to make the purchase of the pet and its habitat a birthday or Christmas present for your child, with the understanding that they will only be receiving that one gift from you this year.

Contractual Obligations
You may want to draft up a contract outlining which pet care duties the child is responsible for. Have them initial next to each item and sign at the bottom, just as they would for a real legal document. Make sure the contract is visible and located near where the animal spends most of its time. This will serve as a daily reminder to your child of the seriousness of the responsibility they are now accountable for.

You may need to help out from time to time, but if your child is really ready for their own pet, they should be responsible for the majority of care and upkeep the animal requires. By becoming pet owners, children develop a deeper level of respect for animals and are also one step closer to growing up.

By: Rhiannon C. Knight

Interested in adopting a pet? Contact Michelle Sampson at www.gimmeshelterpets.com