What have your kids learned from caring for your family pet?

[EllieSmumsnet]

Pets can teach children so much, from responsibility and empathy to confidence around animals. Getting kids involved in simple, everyday care (feeding, brushing, playing, walking) can make a real difference. We’d love to hear your experiences: how have your pets helped your kids learn and grow, and in what ways do you involve them in caring for your animals?

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They have learned how to take care of a living being who relies on them. They have a new sense of gentleness and kindness. When they have been down the dog has been a great source of unconditional love.

Our dog came when DS and I were at a very low ebb. It helped DS to talk through our dogs needs eg you know I think DDog and I will go for a long walk, I think he needs to get out and about. I think Ddog fancies lying in the garden having a rest and cuddle this afternoon. I’m hungry/thirsty and I can bet Ddog would fancy breakfast too. Ddog and I are off to do some revision

My 17 year old daughter has some interest in our 4 bunnies but never does anything towards their care. She did when we bought our first pair of bucks in 2018 & for a little after that but the novelty soon wore off.

For me it has made them understand that they have to keep them safe and fed and loved, and understand how this is likened to being a parent/carer and gives them empathy and understanding that the world does not revolve around them - they are better children because of this.

Responsibility, kindness, empathy and of course, learning about ageing, illness, death, grieving and that life goes on, that it’s a process.

Caring for a family pet has taught my son important lessons about responsibility and empathy. For example, he helps feed and groom our dog, Buddy, every day. At first, he would sometimes forget or get distracted, but over time he learned to stick to a routine and make sure Buddy was happy and healthy. He also notices when Buddy is scared or tired, and he has learned to be gentle and patient. Taking care of a pet has helped my son understand that his actions affect another living being, which has made him more caring and responsible overall

My 7 yr old lets the chickens out, fed and checks for eggs each morning. He also loves picking up the dog poo (thank goodness!)

10yr old has starting walking the dogs on the lead by herself. Loves the freedom it gives her.

All 3 dc (10, 7 and 4) feed the fish.

Our dog (bitch) is about to be 15. We were pregnant at the same time and also have her pup who is the same age as my eldest. She loves my children and would tell me when they were crying (as babies) before i could hear them. Now she is elderly the children are learning compassion and care for a declining family member. They help with her daily meds and care for her daily.

Mine have all learnt from a young age that the cat is very sociable and very tolerant of not so gentle hands, but if you keep annoying him, he WILL swipe at you!
Having pets is a great way for children to learn to respect animals - and the fact they’re not just here for our entertainment

I have very young kids. Had them pouring food for the cat from when they could sit up. They have learned to be calm, gentle, quiet and sweet if they want any notice from the cat at all! They were doing gentle hands and soft kissing noises to the cat from when they could sit up. They’ve also learned to be forgiving and compassionate and considerate of the cats comfort and needs.

It really lifted their mood, and gave them a zest for life once more, and put a smile back on their place, my DS did suffer bullying and being excluded from a friendship group early last year, and having a dog who loved her unconditionally really helped her recover from this trauma in the early days.
She did get help from school and the friendship group has recovered and lessons have been learned - but I feel getting a calm and loving pet has had a massive emotional impact - and her friends love to call around to our house to play with the dog.

My children (3&6) enjoy feeding our pet cats, playing with them with toys and stroking them. They also feed our tortoise and the eldest now has his own stick insects. They are learning to read the animals non verbal cues and understand when they want attention and when they need some space. This has also helped with talking about other people's animals. They have a strong connection to our pets and animals more widely which has made them more compassionate and more engaged with environmental issues such as litter and pollution.

The have learned compassion and to use their 'quiet voice' around the pet which really helps us all.

They are more emotionally aware of the needs of the pet, that they need to be taken outside for the toilet, and need to communicate this to us by their body language, and they get frightened by loud noises and being left alone - they are so much more compassionate now about needs of the pet and their own confidence in looking after the pet.

They are now more responsible as they know the dog needs to have their water topped up regularly, and have three meals a day - the dog has emotional, and the understand when the dog is happy, (obvs), sad, (ears), angry (teeth) and scared (shakes). They really looked after the dog this new years eve by making a den to sleep in.

As we have seen the young dog grown, they have learned how to be patient, that the dog is very vulnerable around roads - he would not be able to cross a road without a grown up, and has to be asked to wait and sit until the road is clear - so they have learned more road and traffic awareness (they go in a car far too much tbh). The know that we have to do everything for the dog, feed, love, exercise and teach right from wrong - which has really helped them mature and understand.

I think the impact is more than one thing TBH, compassion, responsibility, and calmness are all an equal benefit in my household.
We thought long and hard about getting a dog, and waited until they were ready for the responsibility.
My DC's are so much calmer now as they take into consideration that loud noise affects the dog, and how responsibility of feeding, grooming and giving water to the dog gives them a real sense of ownership and pride in the fact they can do this without assistance.

This is niche, but I have a deaf DD. When she got upgraded hearing aids recently, she learnt that a cat’s purr is actually audible. She always thought cats just vibrated when they purred, she didn’t realise there was also a sound! She was delighted She is in her 20s btw! So she learnt that making a cat purr was even more enjoyable and the cat was actually not being unreasonable in thinking 24/7 attention should be devoting to inducing purring.

All my DC have all learnt the responsibilities of pet ownership (cleaning vomit or a tiny turd from a carpet etc) equalled and even outweighed the pleasure of having a pet.

(I won’t say that she thought something was wrong with the cat and panicked thinking it was poorly, as that kind of ruins the “cute” vibe )

I’ve also just noticed I got the responsibilities v pleasure equation wrong in my previous post. Pleasure outweighs responsibilities, just to be clear.

It gave them a distraction and something to love after their grandad passed away - we were thinking about getting one, but their sadness only brought our decision forward, after lots of consideration - we got our rescue from a rehoming centre, and we all picked our buddy for his forever home, and to say he helped distract them (and me) is an understatement.

ps there is no poll so I can add my vote 🤔

My kids love cleaning the hamster out! She has her own little box of cleaning stuff and fresh bedding etc and with supervision she takes so much care and is great with it

A sense or responsibility with looking after the pet - I've really seen it change them for the better.

From rabbit: Empathy, responsibility and mutual respect and understanding that all pets are not simple and easy and low time, they need cared for properly and not quickly. They need fed, cleaned and cared for but there must be research into what foods they can eat safely, what toys and treats are actually safe (not what the pet shops randomly label as rabbit safe) and what stimulation they need so that the whole house isn’t demolished. Also how to win their affection over time and make a wonderful loyal loving pet with the best personality rather than just a wee furry that just sits there. My DDs have and do learn so much from our boy (actually a hare but that’s a whole other story)

They are definitely more responsible, making sure the cat has water and food in the morning, and when they venture outside, they don't go far.
They are also more calm, knowing shouting or screaming will frighten the cat - which has meant an improvement in behaviour.

My DC's have become calmer - less rushing around with loudness and screeching - a quiet voice is needed around the kitten, they enjoy the social interaction with the kitten and watching him grow, they are conscious of his feelings (more than their sibling tbh) - but the house is definitely more calm.