Dogs
By Suzanne Alicie
As a pet owner, you know that animals are entertaining, comforting and fun to have around, but did you realize that a pet is also a great teaching tool? There are several ways you can use your pet to help teach your children, either as a home schooling parent or just basic behavioral lessons.
Pets can be used to teach your children responsibility. Knowing that they are responsible for feeding, watering and giving attention to the pet will help your child establish a routine, and maintain day-to-day chores.
Pets can be used to teach children how to be kind, to protect those who are weaker than others, and basic empathy and compassion. Many times children who are used to playing with adults and other kids their age may not have any idea how gentle they need to be when playing with their pet. Sure, some dogs can take being tackled, but most run the risk of being harmed if a child plays too rough. Teaching your child to adapt their behavior in order to accommodate and respect the difference in stature, ability and personality will carry over to their interactions with other children and adults.
Pets make great teaching tools for home schooling parents. Learning about your dog’s metabolism, body structure and traits are just a few of the things you can integrate into your lesson plans. Think of a cat’s eye and the difference between that and a human eye; your children can learn so much about anatomy, bone structure, and other animal/human differences when you use pets as a teaching tool.
The nutrition that pets need is another way to use your pet as a teaching tool. Children will learn the differences between their food pyramid and the foods that a dog or cat needs to be strong and healthy. CANIDAE Natural Pet Foods provides detailed ingredient and nutritional information on all their products; you can use these labels to compare different formulas and to determine what is best for your pet.
With pets in the home, children can learn lessons about healthy fears that will serve them throughout their lifetime. The behaviors of dogs and cats when they are frightened, angry or cornered come with physical indicators. The raised hackles on a dog serve as a warning that children need to understand in order to avoid being bitten; the same goes for the hiss of a cat. There is a big difference between a phobia or unreasonable fear, and a healthy fear and the instinct of self preservation. It is important that children learn these things early in their lives.
These ways that pets can be used as educational tools are not a complete list by any means. Children with an affinity for animals will find their own educational and behavioral lessons from caring for their pet. A responsible pet owner is one who can see all the benefits of having a pet to love and care for. As adults and parents, we can help teach our children to be responsible pet owners in the future.
Read more articles by Suzanne Alicie
- Why You Should Involve Kids In Dog Training
By Linda Cole Whether you have a puppy or an older dog, involving the entire family in the dog's training is an important part in the dog's education as well as the child's. Kids like to be included in family things, and training a dog should...
- When Can Children Be Responsible Pet Owners?
By Linda Cole Most kids are drawn to pets like a moth is to light. We've all seen the cute videos of kids playing with dogs or being overrun by a litter of puppies. Screams of delight erupt from the child as they’re covered in puppy kisses and wiggling...
- Is Your Child Ready To Work With Pets?
By Suzanne Alicie As a parent and pet lover, you want your child to appreciate, respect and love pets the way you do. This could lead you to help them look for an opportunity to work with pets in some way. Many preteens and teenagers have jobs involving...
- How To Help Kids Learn Responsible Pet Ownership
By Tamara L. Waters Becoming a responsible pet owner is something kids can learn early on. Helping your children learn how to care for pets responsibly and lovingly is easy enough to do, and more important than you might realize. Responsible pet care...
- Pets Can Teach Children Valuable Life Skills
By Julia Williams Bringing a pet into your home – and your heart – offers so many benefits. Laughter, love and joy are three wonderful things I have an abundance of, thanks in large part to my three cats. Pets provide companionship to the lonely,...
Dogs
Using Pets as a Teaching Tool
As a pet owner, you know that animals are entertaining, comforting and fun to have around, but did you realize that a pet is also a great teaching tool? There are several ways you can use your pet to help teach your children, either as a home schooling parent or just basic behavioral lessons.
Pets can be used to teach your children responsibility. Knowing that they are responsible for feeding, watering and giving attention to the pet will help your child establish a routine, and maintain day-to-day chores.
Pets can be used to teach children how to be kind, to protect those who are weaker than others, and basic empathy and compassion. Many times children who are used to playing with adults and other kids their age may not have any idea how gentle they need to be when playing with their pet. Sure, some dogs can take being tackled, but most run the risk of being harmed if a child plays too rough. Teaching your child to adapt their behavior in order to accommodate and respect the difference in stature, ability and personality will carry over to their interactions with other children and adults.
Pets make great teaching tools for home schooling parents. Learning about your dog’s metabolism, body structure and traits are just a few of the things you can integrate into your lesson plans. Think of a cat’s eye and the difference between that and a human eye; your children can learn so much about anatomy, bone structure, and other animal/human differences when you use pets as a teaching tool.
The nutrition that pets need is another way to use your pet as a teaching tool. Children will learn the differences between their food pyramid and the foods that a dog or cat needs to be strong and healthy. CANIDAE Natural Pet Foods provides detailed ingredient and nutritional information on all their products; you can use these labels to compare different formulas and to determine what is best for your pet.
With pets in the home, children can learn lessons about healthy fears that will serve them throughout their lifetime. The behaviors of dogs and cats when they are frightened, angry or cornered come with physical indicators. The raised hackles on a dog serve as a warning that children need to understand in order to avoid being bitten; the same goes for the hiss of a cat. There is a big difference between a phobia or unreasonable fear, and a healthy fear and the instinct of self preservation. It is important that children learn these things early in their lives.
These ways that pets can be used as educational tools are not a complete list by any means. Children with an affinity for animals will find their own educational and behavioral lessons from caring for their pet. A responsible pet owner is one who can see all the benefits of having a pet to love and care for. As adults and parents, we can help teach our children to be responsible pet owners in the future.
Read more articles by Suzanne Alicie
- Why You Should Involve Kids In Dog Training
By Linda Cole Whether you have a puppy or an older dog, involving the entire family in the dog's training is an important part in the dog's education as well as the child's. Kids like to be included in family things, and training a dog should...
- When Can Children Be Responsible Pet Owners?
By Linda Cole Most kids are drawn to pets like a moth is to light. We've all seen the cute videos of kids playing with dogs or being overrun by a litter of puppies. Screams of delight erupt from the child as they’re covered in puppy kisses and wiggling...
- Is Your Child Ready To Work With Pets?
By Suzanne Alicie As a parent and pet lover, you want your child to appreciate, respect and love pets the way you do. This could lead you to help them look for an opportunity to work with pets in some way. Many preteens and teenagers have jobs involving...
- How To Help Kids Learn Responsible Pet Ownership
By Tamara L. Waters Becoming a responsible pet owner is something kids can learn early on. Helping your children learn how to care for pets responsibly and lovingly is easy enough to do, and more important than you might realize. Responsible pet care...
- Pets Can Teach Children Valuable Life Skills
By Julia Williams Bringing a pet into your home – and your heart – offers so many benefits. Laughter, love and joy are three wonderful things I have an abundance of, thanks in large part to my three cats. Pets provide companionship to the lonely,...