The psychological impact of having a pet It is evident from the age of 3, when the child enters the initiative stage in the face of feelings of guilt, described by the psychoanalyst Erik Erikson (1992-1994), in which he learns to distinguish that the animal It is not a toy, object or human being.says psychologist Antonio Rivera, coordinator of the Group of Psychologists, Counselors and Motivators of Guatemala.
“The child understands that there is one more entity to relate to, with which he can communicate and to which he can transmit emotions and feelings. You can talk to him, caress him, scold him or play with him. The minor understands that he is a living being that feels and shows affection”, indica. Dogs They are the ones that generate greater communication with humans; Their corporeality allows them contact, emotional gratification and interaction. The cats They fulfill that function in second place and then are followed by parrots, parakeets, rabbits, chickens and fish, he explains.
Read also: Children and pets: an unmatched friendship
“When we talk regarding dogs and cats, given their great intelligence and emotional capacity, we can learn how to be a good companion and practice responsibility, understanding and empathy. We must remember that children, in the learning stage, must always be in the company of adults who model and monitor behaviors during interaction with animals, to avoid misunderstandings and accidents,” indicates veterinary doctor Vanessa Granados Barneond, professor of Animal Physiology and Bioethics at the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala.
Among the benefits that have been described regarding pet ownership from an early age, is that these can help us feel safe and protected, says Granados.
“There are children who learn to love and give affection, by expressing it to their pet, as well as the goodness of their being in the care they give them, but there are children with sadistic personalities who inflict harm on them,” says Rivera. As an example, he remembers that when he was a child, one of his classmates, aged 11, carried a mutilated parakeet in a plastic bag and with all the laughter and mockery he told the others: “Here is your buddy”, action and unacceptable behavior. An animal makes the child express his true self and, as he grows, observe rules related to his care and treatment.
“If we teach to have a ‘yard dog’ or a ‘garden cat’, the young people will learn the same thing and the cycle of bad tenure and lack of consideration of the needs of animals will be replicated and will continue,” adds Granados.
Read also: Children and pets: special connection
The child will recognize that there are moments for enjoyment, but also, for the discipline and responsibility to attend to their needs and illness. In the latter case, they must be taught that they must act quickly to prevent it from getting worse and that doing so involves effort, money and time, an explanation that must be given by their parents and emphasize that If you do not have the resources, it is better not to have pets, indicates Rivera.
“Parents should accompany the example with the talk so that the children understand that reality, Well, there are irresponsible adults who have abused pets.which must be avoided from an early age,” says Rivera.
Depending on the age of the child, It is recommended to involve him in the tasks that come with ownership, responsible behavior and care, says Granados.
At the end of the animal’s life, the child will understand the death process of living beings and will learn to manage grief with a loved one and how to manage it. Parents must wait a reasonable time of more than five months to adopt another pet, so that the little one learns that animals are not disposable and that they cannot be replaced without any regret.
Read also: How to teach children respect for animals
Advantages of taking care of pets from childhood
It helps strengthen the immune system in minors, as it helps reduce the risk of developing allergies, among other conditions, explains veterinarian Vanessa Granados.
- It helps reduce stress and anxiety, since dogs and cats are usually a source of emotional support for minors.
- It helps raise self-esteem, since by giving and receiving love and showing care and affection, children can feel more accepted and valued.
- Walking and playing with our pets helps them be more active and enjoy nature.
- The children show joy when they see them; They experience a feeling of company when talking to them; self-confidence, by giving them protection, and pride, by showing them off.
window.addEventListener(‘DOMContentLoaded’, function() {
/*(function($) {*/
(function (d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s);
js.id = id;
js.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/es_LA/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3”;
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));
/*})(jQuery);*/
});
#educate #children #healthy #coexistence #pets
