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 are all of the things above - although it is like having another child to think about when you get a dog - there is no sibling rivalry.

Mine are definitely more responsible, they use their own initiative to know what the dog wants, when he is tired, looking scared, looking happy, looking at his bowls wanting water or food, basic training - sit and stay for treats - they loved this, and being independent in brushing the dogs coat.

Responsibility to another creature. That a do needs to be walked and fed even if it’s pouring with rain or you want to watch this program.

And of course, all dogs are therapy dogs- just some are amateurs.

DS1 has become braver around animals - he was mostly quite skittish before. It’s also made him less anxious and he’s so sweet around our cat saying she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to him ❤️

We have small animals and the children have different set days to feed them and help with cleaning out. They've learnt compassion and how to put the pets needs first. They also make up mazes and games to play, tried training them, plus they chat to them like they're best friends which is very sweet.

They have learned to be gentle and how to communicate, and have gained a sense of responsibility with feeding, cleaning and grooming. They have brought the dcs a wonderful benefits including a sense of calm and more compassion.

We have adopted many senior (ex sled dog) huskies. There have always been 3 or 4 dogs in our family since the kids were born.

I don't think my kids could imagine life without them. They live a mix of outdoors and inside. So there is usually a dog nearby when they are playing. They read to them. Draw pictures for them and it's the subconscious cuddles whilst they sit and watch a film together that I adore.

Obviously we have had to say goodbye to several of them due to illness and old age, and it always opens up conversations about life, death and what it means to give a pet a good quality of care.

DC are under 7yrs and these are obviously pretty big dogs. So to see them trotting about so confident and calm around both our dogs and animals in general is wonderful.

They are also fantastic dogs to use for skiing and sledding because they're so calm and laid back.

I'd say they've learnt to be caring, as in being considerate and compassionate. Some kids are so bad with pets and treat them like rubbish. As long as the kids have good role models around in terms of their parents, kids can always learn to be more caring if that's not already an innate characteristic.

To respect individual differences. All our pets have different personalities, with one of them being nervous and anxious. Our children learn how to be sensitive to that and respect boundaries.

Things my children learned from pets:

1. There are many holes in the walls and floors of old houses.
2. Hamsters can get into small spaces.
3. We can't always rip out every wall and floor to locate a hamster that, in all likelihood has gone to live his best life in the meadow outside.
4. Dead rodents under floorboards smell for a surprisingly long time.

Edited to add: And don't fuck with cats. They have an ungodly number of anti-fuckery manoeuvres. Just let them sleep. They'll like you when you're not toddlers.

@MaddyMumsnet @CeriMumsnet @MNHQ @EllieSmumsnet

Bumping as seems like a winner has yet to be picked for this. Can you let us know the who the winner is please?

Congratulations @Devontownie you are the winner of this discussion!

That's amazing Thank you!

Down the garden centre I go!