Pets are great friends and fun to be with. They become a part of the family very soon and exhibit very amusing mannerisms. They are generally the best playmates for young children, especially in the case of a single child who feels very lonely without company to play with.

Parents have to choose pets for children very carefully as otherwise they may have to face serious consequences at a later date, especially if they find the pet unsafe for the child or the child finds the pet scary and unfriendly. There is nothing wrong if you involve your child in the decision making process as he is finally going to spend a lot of time with the pet. Also, ensure that the pet does not have any ailments, diseases, rashes or other skin allergies which may be risky for your child also.

Educate your child the importance of not touching a wild animal. However, they should be generally be kind and show respect to all life forms as a pet would be too dependent on you on arriving at home. Carefully analyze whether you would be able to give in the time required for the pet as it requires a lot of care and training until it gets adapted into your home.

Not all pets are friendly to children though they may be fun to play with and look very cute. Hence, make sure that the animal is safe for your child to play.

Generally, dogs and cats are the first choice for many families. Dogs should be checked thoroughly and vaccinations should be administered before bringing the animal home from the store. Note that not all dog breeds are kind to children. However, certain breeds like Labrador Retrievers, West Highland, Golden Retrievers, Labradors, White Terrier, Poodles and Beagles are very good at interacting with children. They love socializing with humans and generally carry an excellent temperament. Your abode should be big enough for the dog to roam around well and exercise. Adequate space for shelter should be allotted and food should be served regularly on time. Nourishment in the form of special dog food as a part of every meal would protect them from contracting various diseases and keep them healthy.

Cats are also ideal for families but one should evaluate the health of the cat before purchasing. Cats are generally compassionate and loving. The nails of the cats should be trimmed regularly as the scratches may be very painful. Cats get attracted to stringy objects, hence electrical cords and other harmful objects should be kept away from the reach of these pets. Your child would have a lot of fun playing with the cat with thread, yam, safe string objects and rubber.

Dogs and cats require a lot of time with the inmates of the house to establish the intimacy. However, there are other pets that do not interact too much with your child. In case your kid does not like dogs and cats, you can opt for pet fishes like goldfish. They are enjoyable to watch and extremely safe. Rabbits are children’s favourites with their soft and cuddly nature but they require a lot of free space to run around energetically.

Mark Perry

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