Since he was little, my son has always told me that he wants a pet for company, but I didn’t let him. Perhaps because of my phobias towards animals or because of my ignorance that they are of benefit to developing their self-esteem and identity.
- Today I already allow it, as a therapeutic measure for both him and me. It is necessary to instill in human beings the benefits that this implies. Since it helps fill empty spaces in the affective area. They give security and responsibility to raise it as well as protection.
- Therefore, pets can be considered as one more member of a family group and even as a key members of a community. Whether for security and protection (psychosocial), positive companionship (physiological), and therapeutic health (psychological) purposes.
- Parents must properly prepare and guide their children when allowing them to have pets. Since it will help to promote their responsibility in terms of feeding it and taking care of it in its hygiene and instilling in them that their affection increases progressively. They must be overstepped, because some people come to adopt unusual behavior, concerning considering pets as if they were people. So much so that they care for them as if they were babies, therefore a balance must be maintained that is favorable for both. Reminding our children that they are animals and that they were created with reasons to delight us.
- If you decide to welcome a pet into your home, take advantage of it and explain the factors to consider. As for the place where you live, the expenses that are required to have the pet, its food, veterinarian, and others. Supervise the time that will be dedicated to him and of course, parents should consider the age of their child.
Benefits or advantages of having pets at home.
We are very clear that adolescents live a rough and critical stage at a certain age and more so when there are unexpected conflicts with their parents or their rhythm of life, be it at school or with their friends, is not going well. They tend to feel frustrated, so much is their aptitude that they corner themselves showing shyness or simply feel abandoned. Here we show a series of advantages that will be of great benefit to encourage the adolescent to change their aptitude, compensating for their confidence and loneliness, among them we have:
- Pets bring a level of trust because they are faithful friends, bringing unconditional affection.
- They capture the moods of their master, they know how to listen and will not reveal to others the secrets told by their master, which also makes the owner not feel threatened by him.
- They provide daily lessons of tolerance and respect since they are living beings that you cannot throw away when they feel like it, nor leave when they are old.
- Coexistence and communication improve in the family group because they can work as a team to take turns caring for the pet.
- The fact of showing affection to the pet by stroking helps to release stress, and avoid the anxieties and excessive depression that your child manifests at that age, releasing endorphins and giving a feeling of freedom and tranquility.
- Animals have such a keen sense that they capture moods, providing company in moments of loneliness, and if their owner is sick, they feel like healing because it gives you protection and security.
- If you are one of the parents who have a child with certain disabilities, whether physical or mental, having a pet at home makes it easier to develop their emotions.
Read our entry on « How to choose fish as a pet ».
Disadvantages or cons of having a pet at home.
Parents are the first to decide to accept a pet as a member of the family. Since all the responsibility will fall on them when it comes to guiding their adolescent son to raise the animal. Here we present a series of disadvantages that must be taken into account to have a living being that requires care. Between them, we have:
- Allergies are common in humans, take this disadvantage into account.
- Home hygiene is important since there will be hair or feathers everywhere, urine, excrement, mess if it is playful, scattered food, in short, and even strong odors depending on the pet you adopt, therefore it requires more cleaning.
- If your family performs many daily activities or takes vacations for a long time, they cannot take care of the pet, so take into account that small and important detail.
- Family members must reach a mutual agreement to take care of it, that is, have time and space to have the pet.