A pet is a big responsibility that one way or another will fall on the shoulders of adults, not a child.
It is understandable: unnecessary chores, visits to the vet, spending on food, toilet for a cat, the need to walk the dog, bathe, comb, look with whom leaving the animal while you are away - all this takes a lot of time and effort, which is not so much against the background of work, household chores and upbringing children.
A child, wanting to get an animal, is ready to promise anything. Of course, he will claim that he will take all the care of the pet on himself. These statements cannot be denied - because it will look like you do not trust the child.
Moreover, he promises sincerely - he simply does not fully understand the scale of responsibility. At the same time, one should not expect that only a child will deal with a pet - it is obvious that this is unrealistic.
At first, the child will really be involved in caring for the animal, but then the enthusiasm will fade. After all, responsibility is perceived as a one-time task - a maximum of several times, but doing the same thing for years is, of course, tiring and unpleasant for him.
It is important that there are no reproaches from the parental side. Yes, you knew it would. But there is no need to undermine the child's self-esteem by pointing out his irresponsibility and inability to keep promises.
If from the very beginning you share the responsibilities of caring for a pet with your child, periodically changing tasks, then he will feel involved in a common cause, following the example of his parents. They are not born responsible; they learn this quality from the example of loved ones.
What not to do if a child asks for an animal
1. Take unfulfilled promises
The child can assure that he will not only take care of the pet, but also wash floors, dishes, etc. But the more such tasks he takes upon himself, the faster he will stop performing them.
2. Lie
You can think of 1000 reasons why you can't have an animal, but each of them must be true. If no one in the family is allergic to cats and dogs, then there is no need to frighten the child with imaginary diseases, undermining trust.3. Ignore requests
If a child asks for an animal, and you pretend that this is not happening, then you ignore, in fact, not the words, but the child himself and his needs. It is necessary to enter into an honest conversation in which it is easy to explain why it is impossible to have a pet here and now.
4. Threaten
Never threaten what you don’t do, otherwise you devalue your words. You yourself understand that you will not give up the animal just because the child has forgotten about some of his duties. And if you are really ready to give, then it is better not to start at all. A living creature is not a toy that can be passed back and forth.
5. Replace the purchase of an animal with something else
If a child wants a dog, a hamster, fish or a parrot will not suit him. No toy or houseplant will give him as much emotion as a real animal, so such substitutions are meaningless.
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- What to do if a child is afraid of animals
- How to teach a child to properly educate with animals
- 5 houseplants harmful to children and animals
