Every kid that has grown up in a household without pets has spent at least some time on the internet, researching the benefits of having a dog, trying to gather as much evidence as possible to convince their parents to buy a pet. Sometimes they gather their evidence and reasoning up into a PowerPoint or maybe some sort of poster; but in my case, I am writing an opinion piece to convince my parents to finally get me a dog after years and years of begging.
Pets have a positive effect on the intellectual development of children and how pets help the mental and physical health of all people. From the perspective of parents, at least my own, pets are a big responsibility and need a lot of attention, but the benefits to both the children’s mental health and parents’ mental health greatly outweigh the work needed to take care of a pet.
Pets like dogs require walking and taking them out to exercise, which will improve the owner’s health as well. Studies show that people who have pets tend to have lower blood pressure, heart rate, and heart disease risk than those who don’t. Animals also can improve a person’s mental health, especially for people with challenging disorders. Studies have also shown that a proven antidote to anxiety and loneliness can come from pets. Alan Beck, director of the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University says that “The data is strong, if you look at what animals do for people and how we interact with them, it’s not surprising at all.”
Pets also greatly help the development of children, and it has been proven that pets can act as playmates for young children as well as companions for parents when children leave home.
Studies have found that pets can teach children empathy and understanding. “It’s really important, especially for young kids, to learn that someone’s perspective might be different from their own,” says Megan Mueller, associate professor of human-animal interaction at Tufts University, US. “That’s an easier lesson to learn, perhaps, with an animal than it is with, say, a sibling or a peer.” The Beneficial impacts of pets don’t stop here; they also include benefits to children’s social skills, physical health, and even cognitive development, making having a pet an all and all good deal for the social and intellectual development of small children.
To all parents and especially mine, I let out a desperate plea to get your child a pet to improve both your and their physical and mental health as well as their socio-intellectual development. I hope after reading this, you will finally consider fulfilling your child’s dream of their very own, four-legged best friend.
Pets have a positive effect on the intellectual development of children and how pets help the mental and physical health of all people. From the perspective of parents, at least my own, pets are a big responsibility and need a lot of attention, but the benefits to both the children’s mental health and parents’ mental health greatly outweigh the work needed to take care of a pet.
Pets like dogs require walking and taking them out to exercise, which will improve the owner’s health as well. Studies show that people who have pets tend to have lower blood pressure, heart rate, and heart disease risk than those who don’t. Animals also can improve a person’s mental health, especially for people with challenging disorders. Studies have also shown that a proven antidote to anxiety and loneliness can come from pets. Alan Beck, director of the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University says that “The data is strong, if you look at what animals do for people and how we interact with them, it’s not surprising at all.”
Pets also greatly help the development of children, and it has been proven that pets can act as playmates for young children as well as companions for parents when children leave home.
Studies have found that pets can teach children empathy and understanding. “It’s really important, especially for young kids, to learn that someone’s perspective might be different from their own,” says Megan Mueller, associate professor of human-animal interaction at Tufts University, US. “That’s an easier lesson to learn, perhaps, with an animal than it is with, say, a sibling or a peer.” The Beneficial impacts of pets don’t stop here; they also include benefits to children’s social skills, physical health, and even cognitive development, making having a pet an all and all good deal for the social and intellectual development of small children.
To all parents and especially mine, I let out a desperate plea to get your child a pet to improve both your and their physical and mental health as well as their socio-intellectual development. I hope after reading this, you will finally consider fulfilling your child’s dream of their very own, four-legged best friend.
