Bledidoc Answers
Why is it recommended to have a pet?

Pets are part of many children's lives. There is a big link when a child learns to care for an animal and treat it kindly and patiently. This way, his learned behavior will be reflected in the same way he treats people.  

Having a pet benefits your children’s social behavior and health:

  1. Developing positive feelings for pets can contribute to a child's self-esteem and self-confidence.
  2. They can help develop responsible behavior in the children who care for them.
  3. They create a healthy connection with nature and teach them respect for other living things.1
  4. Children who were exposed to two or more dogs or cats as babies were less than half as likely to develop common allergies as kids who had no pets in the home.2

Here are small tips you should know if you have or willing to have a pet:

  1. Children under the age of 3-4 years should be monitored with pets because they cannot control their aggressive and angry impulses.
  2. Children under 10 years should be under parental supervision if the pet is a large animal.
  3. Parents should always remind their children that animals, like people, need food, water, and exercise.1

 

Dr Issam Abdel Samad

Head of Pediatric department and NICU Ain Wazein Medical Village

1American Academy of Child & adolescent Psychiatry https://www.aacap.org/aacap/families_and_youth/facts_for_families/fff-guide/pets-and-children-075.aspx
2https://www.parents.com/parenting/pets/kids/the-benefits-of-pets/According to a study by Dennis Ownby, MD, a pediatrician and head of the allergy and immunology department of the Medical College of Georgia, in Augusta,



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