The Role Having A Pet Plays For Children

I had cats growing up and loved their constant presence, how smart they were and the love they gave me. But as I got older, I realized just how valuable they are in helping to form character.

Parents know having one means you have to be more responsible which is a plus and caring about them teaches you empathy. But there is much more to it than that since I believe they are there to make our lives richer.

They constantly watch you to figure out how you think about things and consequent reactions. Those mysterious big eyes are always weighing you and your moods and they tend to lure you into play as often as they can.

Equally impressive is the fact that they know when to just be still and listen to you because they sense you are needing a being to care about your heartbreak. And sometimes they sit to allow you to figure something out.

Sleeping with you means they trust the relationship you have and know you will look after them if they are scared. The feeding part also forms trust and they know you will never let them go hungry.

But that trust is there even when your circumstances mean you cannot feed them as well or give them the care they should have. Their love never sways once that trust and bond has been formed.

People who never had pets do not understand this kind of connection and often misunderstand pets. So while most parents feel it is too much of a responsibility for kids, the values the whole family learns are invaluable.

And more than anything else, pets teach us about love. If we do not understand this, we missed the point of having one. They fill a large hole for many who live alone in later life. But it all starts when we are young and open to new experiences.