“What a beautiful puppy! We bring him home?”
“Alessia has two dogs!! Dad, I take it?”
“Dear Santa, all I ask for is nothing else this year...there are so many puppies in the kennel at the bottom of the road...should do one!!”
There are so many children that are fantastic, and on how much it would be great to have a pet as a companion to games.
Many parents ask us if you adopt a dog, it could be helpful for the growth and sense of responsibility of their child. Maybe because, for some time, it is a desire that the child has expressed, and at the bottom, the bottom is a desire of the mother.
But how can we know if it is a whim and make him understand that a dog is not a toy?
By the time the dog arrives at our house start of one of the more intense reports that we can live in from the point of view of effective. It is essential from the outset to emphasize how adopting a dog is a responsibility, a significant commitment, and a great joy.
We do for him will be the point of reference. He will forever need us, and it will show us his love and his fidelity without the need for words.
How to empower your child to take care of the dog?
The arrival of the dog house will be a time full of joy and enthusiasm. Everyone will want to play with him; everyone will want to take it for a walk. Then, the initial enthusiasm will begin to decrease, and the desire to get up at 7 to do the morning rounds, even if it rains or snows, will be slight.
For this reason, it is good to immediately give each of them a small task and little responsibility. Avoid expressions of the type “You'll buy it, but then I will always carry you!”
We know that this is impossible... it's better to say
“We take it and you'll take charge of to change the water in the bowl in the morning”
The good and sincere intentions may change, not for lack of interest or to a drop of affection for the animal. For this reason, it's better to avoid too much responsibility.
It will be important at this stage to support the child in the care of the animal, affianchiamolo in such a way as to help him to to experiment with that the patience of trains and boredom or fatigue can be overcome.
Adopt a pet can encourage the intellectual and emotional development of the child?
“When there is a dog in the family it's another baby!”
“Perhaps it would be better to a dog much smaller.”
“I didn't think you would want to so well to the little dog.”
“I had promised to take him out every day, but in the end always touches me!”
Living with a pet is aimportant experience for the growth of the child from the point of view of cognitive, affective, and relational. This is because the relationship with the animal urges the child to observe, learn and experience new situations, but is also the creator of the strong emotions experienced (laughter are just around the corner!).
But not only that! The pet also plays important functions both support against the isolation of (Shoda, Stayton, and Martin, 2011) and of real social and psychological support, even in children with Special Educational Needs (Barfield, & Driessnack, 2018).
Finally, several research studies show that the mere presence of the dog in the environment, reduces the level of stress of the present and the act of stroking a dog has beneficial effects on both physical and psychological: it lowers the blood pressure, the heart rate slows, breathing is stabilized, the muscles to relax.
And the emotions you feel as a parent?
Don't feel obligated to adopt a puppy, is not a duty and not an obligation. This is an important choice, and it is important to be aware that the arrival of the four-legged friend, we will change the life, from the point of view of the emotional/affective, but also from the organizational point of view.
For this reason, get in touch with the emotion you feel as a parent. It is also a desire of yours? Do you think that is feasible in the daily organization, or you are worried that it can increase your stress load organisational?
Show how you feel, and talk about it openly: this is an example for the children.
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