It’s fair to say that for any child, the experience of getting a pet should be one of great joy and fun, but that doesn’t mean that some responsibility shouldn’t come along with it. There are plenty of cuddles and times for play, but the truth is that a devoted dog provides a wonderful opportunity to start teaching your small person about the benefits of things like patience, guidance and strategy.
Here are some of the best ways to encourage your child to take some ownership of their furry friend’s wellbeing!
- Start with Clear, Age-Appropriate Tasks
The best entry point is to start assigning simple, age-appropriate jobs for your kid to manage. This could be as small as filling the water bowl and helping you scoop food, before graduating to things like walking the dog, cleaning the litter box or even scheduling vet check-ups. A handy checklist on the refrigerator always helps, and the more responsibility your kid takes on, the more confident they will feel.
- Associate Responsibility with Fun
Pets are absolutely a source of affection and play, and that connection can be put to great use when it comes to responsibility feeling fun rather than daunting. Taking their pup out for a walk equals quality time together, whilst at the same time demonstrating their maturity and trust worthiness is a natural way.
It’s always great to have the best gear at hand to ensure walks so smoothly, and handmade dog harnesses are the best for allaying any fears of escape!
- Create Routine and Predictability
Pets and children often react in the same ways to routine schedules, and that’s positively. When your week becomes a familiar pattern, it is easier to remember and there is less opportunity for surprise stress along the way. There is no harm in creating some visual reminders around the home like a planned itinerary for who is going what from Monday to Friday.
- Teach Through Example
We’re sure you’ve noticed that kids watch what you do more than listen to what you say, so the simple act of caring for your pup with consistency and kindness will have a positive effect on them. They will work on adopting the same behavior, so make sure that they understand each step of the care process by narrating some of your actions, like “I’m just topping us his water so he can stay hydrated”, or “I’m brushing her fur so that it stays healthy and soft”.
- Reward Responsibility
Your pup gets treats when it does the right thing, so why shouldn’t your child too!? From simple words of praise to stickers to small home privileges when they complete their pet car jobs, rewards can reinforce the continuation of good behavior. If your child responds especially well to rewards, then creating something like a ‘responsibility chart’ to put on the refrigerator can be the perfect idea for keeping them motivated and enthusiastic.
- Let The Lead (with Supervision!)
The older your kid gets, the more they will be able to take the lead on certain pet care tasks. Giving them ownership over different jobs will certainly build confidence, but it’s always important to supervise in the background to guarantee everything goes smoothly, at least for the first few times. The love is there right from the start, so it’s your job to just make sure that their affection for their pet is being met with equal care and attention in what they are doing to help them. You can always step in in a natural, unassuming way if you see something that needs rectifying.
Marissa is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist turned stay-at-home mom who loves sharing her tips, tricks, and ideas for navigating motherhood. Her days are filled starting tickle wars and dance parties with three energetic toddlers and wondering how long she can leave the house a mess until her husband notices. When she doesn’t have her hands full of children, she enjoys a glass (or 3) of wine, reality tv, and country music. In addition to blogging about all things motherhood, she sells printables on Etsy and has another website, teachinglittles.com, for kid’s activity ideas.
