By Dana Lewis Lewis - Education career student

“Having pets can teach us a lot of things. For kids they are often their first lesson in responsibility, and being responsible for the well-being of another living thing is actually great for anyone, kid or adult. It teaches empathy, consistency and so much more- especially if that pet is a dog”.  - Cesar Millan

Owning a pet is not just a kid whim, is, in many cases, a requirement for them, to assist with disabilities or with cognitive aspects. On the other hand, animals can be a great friend for them providing company and dearness. Going deeper, this can be a way for kids to learn about responsibility and orderliness. These are some aspects to keep in mind if a parent has doubts if this a good idea or not, considering that also they would have to be responsible to teach their kids which should be the best way to treat the animal.

Pets provide company to kids. It can be in real terms, the best friend. They can notice when kids are upset, sad, happy, even angry, and can help changing that mode. Also there exists the equine therapy that helps as a muscle relaxant. “One popular approach to promote stress relief is animal visitation programs” (Pendry y Vandagriff, 2019, p.1). Is important to get to know this term as an advantage not always for kids but also for adults.

The way that a kid can learn about responsibility, ownership, orderliness is owning a pet. This is how they can experiment what having a pet means. In some point of their lives they will notice that in that moment, they were mature enough to maintain a pet alive. Also, parents must consider that it is not just kid responsibility as they must teach their siblings how to do it. The way that a kid can learn about responsibility, ownership, orderliness is owning a pet. This is how they can experiment what having a pet means. In some point of their lives they will notice that in that moment, they were mature enough to maintain a pet alive. Also, parents must consider that it is not just kid responsibility as they must teach their siblings how to do it.

A pet is part of the family. “Participants described their pets as providing a sense of family by considering the pet as their child or a member of the family, and themselves as a loving parent or guardian of a dependent” (Chandler, Fernando, Minton, Bethke, 2018, p. 274). They have necessities as well and need to feel loved. Taking care of them is to give them back all the love and affection that they provided to the family. They give, but not to receive, as humans do. The best you can do for them is to treat them as they deserve to be treated.

MOXIE es el Canal de ULACIT (www.ulacit.ac.cr), producido por y para los estudiantes universitarios, en alianza con el medio periodístico independiente Delfino.cr, con el propósito de brindarles un espacio para generar y difundir sus ideas.  Se llama Moxie - que en inglés urbano significa tener la capacidad de enfrentar las dificultades con inteligencia, audacia y valentía - en honor a nuestros alumnos, cuyo “moxie” los caracteriza.

References:
  • Chandler, Fernando, Minton, Bethke (2017). Eight Domains of Pet-Owner Wellness. http://web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=4&sid=3511f470-c8fd-4ee3-966e-8771380a073f%40pdc-v-sessmgr04
  • Pendry, P., Vandagriff, J. L. (2019). One popular approach to promote stress relief is animal visitation programs. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1220763.pdf