Starting at age 6, a child will ask for a pet on average 11 times a month — that’s nearly 1,600 times by age 18! While many parents hold off getting a household pet because of the commitment and responsibility, it’s only fair to consider some of the proven benefits of having a family pet.
One of the biggest added concerns of pet ownership is home insurance. For example, dogs present some liability for their owners, and that liability can be minimized through a pet coverage add-on to your homeowners policy.
Most insurance providers will cover the family dog without much headache. The problem comes when the dog you share a home with is deemed aggressive or dangerous. Some of these supposed dangerous dogs may come as a shock — like the Siberian husky. Fortunately, there are options for Siberian husky homeowners insurance.
The thought of liability coverage shouldn’t deter anyone from bringing a pet into their home. The benefits, especially those less common benefits, far outweigh the potential challenges.
Common Benefits of Having a Pet
When a child asks for a pet, parents often think of the responsibility associated with taking care of another living creature. However, many people see this responsibility as a positive. Even young children can learn how to take care of something or someone else.
Pets, especially dogs, also bring in an element of required physical activity. A lot of dog breeds need extra exercise and stimulation to stay healthy and out of mischief. This means children and the rest of the family have to get moving. This can encourage more exercise and an interest in different outdoor activities.
These benefits are nothing to scoff at; responsibility and staying physically active are important and worthwhile benefits. These aren’t the only benefits that come with that family pet, however.
5 Unexpected Benefits from the Family Pet
It’s hard to outline every possible benefit of having a family pet. There are so many things a family pet can do for and with a family, but there are a few that are often overlooked.
However, let’s take a look at such benefits. These benefits are really a development of skills that children don’t necessarily always learn from other places like school.
#1 – Confidence
Having a family pet can help boost a child’s self-esteem. Not only will they develop confidence by taking on the responsibility of a pet, but the relationship that develops can also help increase self-esteem.
#2 – Patience
Patience is another great benefit of pet ownership. Bonding with a pet or learning the intricacies of their personality can take time. Children will need to develop more patience to work on and deepen their relationship with their pet.
Additionally, it can take extreme patience to house or litter train a pet. Children can learn the benefits of patience and hard work paying off while getting to know the newest member of their family.
#3 – Motivation
Caring for a pet creates a sense of internal motivation. Children are motivated to care for and love their pets well. This often leads to better performance in school, especially since caring for a pet can help to teach them self-motivation.
#4 –Loyalty and Respect
Pets are living creatures. They need gentle touches and boundaries, even with the people in the home. This helps encourage a sense of respect in children as they learn how to function in a respectful manner with their pet.
The loyalty a pet has for its owner is another great example for children. As children learn how to take care of and bond with their pet, they can also learn about how they should treat their friends.
#5 – How to Grieve
It’s hard to think about, but pets will pass away. Children will spend years of their life learning to care for and love this animal, but then it will die. This is a hard fact to face, but there is a silver lining to this sadness.
Children who lose pets are able to learn the grieving process. These kids can experience healthy grieving and can ask questions about their own feelings.
Dogs and Home Insurance
Dog owners can add to their homeowners insurance and help protect themselves against bite concerns and potential liability issues.. The ability and cost of this added coverage depend almost entirely on the breed of dog a family selects. Even for the dogs considered aggressive or dangerous, there are options for insurance coverage.
So the next time your child asks for a pet, don’t jump right to “no.” Of course, pets aren’t the right choice for every child or every family, but it doesn’t have to be such a quick answer.
