Having an animal in the family teaches a great deal to all members of the household and especially to children. The impact varies, of course, at each age. This article by a psychologist describes the impact of having animals in the home on a child's development.
When deciding on a pet for our child, we need to be guided - in addition to factors related to the right amount of time for the pet or the right place - by the age of the child. It's worth remembering that it's not really until a child is of school age that they are able to commit to caring for an animal. I know the story of one four-year-old who really liked a hamster and then received one for his birthday. The interest in the animal was short-lived, which then resulted in the hamster being taken out of the terrarium less and less and less in the presence of humans. The hamster began to grow weary of this and became increasingly aggressive. At this point, he no longer enjoyed the attention of the four-year-old and even caused him fear. The hamster was then handed over to its new owners, where it hopefully had more opportunities for human contact.
When considering the choice of a quadruped, it is worth finding out something about its manner, its needs, its character. Some people may be annoyed by a rodent's nocturnal lifestyle, or by bird droppings they may come across in the flat, or by a canary singing at five o'clock in the morning. Others may think that the dog will learn to do its business in the yard or walk on its own. When it comes to the dog, the breed of the dog is extremely important, which in some of them predominantly shapes their character.
A pre-school child is most likely to come into contact with a dog or cat. This is because of the ease of contact and the size of the animal (e.g. a three-year-old can so 'hug' a hamster that he or she suffocates it). We must, of course, be aware in this situation that the child's help in caring for the pet is very limited, but its presence teaches a great deal.
School-age children who already have learning responsibilities are also able to fulfil them towards the animal. Therefore, when a daughter or son wants a dog, parrot or turtle, it is necessary to agree on what his or her responsibilities will be towards it (even in writing) and to keep to the commitments.
As we can see, having a pet in the family is not always easy, but it can give the child a great deal if the choice is right for him or her.
