The gift of fuzzy love
September 4, 2008 by Sherry Osborne
Filed under Parenting
Today, after school was out, my family hopped into the car and headed to the nearest animal shelter. We had been on the weekend but couldn’t find a suitable companion for our needs. Today we lucked out and were able to give both our kids the gift of unconditional fuzzy love.
My oldest had been hoping for a dog for the past two years. We have several friends with dogs and both the girls love playing with them and snuggling them. I knew they would love one of their own, and now we finally have one.
According to an article in the New York Times, there are great benefits, psychologically, when kids have pets. Having a pet can help enhance social skills, learn about co-operation and sharing, and role-taking skills. That’s on top of many doctors who have said that having a pet in the house can help prevent allergies (assuming they don’t already have one of course!).
I always had pets growing up and couldn’t imagine my kids not having the same experience.
Do your kids have pets?
My kids don’t have any because they’re still young and we live in a Manhattan apartment – but as soon as we have a house and my oldest is old enough to ask, we’ll be at the shelter!