The Benefits of Pets for Children

“A dog is a man’s best friend,” or so goes the adage. In some cases, though, a pet is also a parent’s best friend, in that pets benefit children and teach them things in ways that complement the role of the parent. While pets are not for every family, the right pets in the right families have immense benefits.

Pets can teach kids a lot of life skills. Pets can help children learn responsibility, as they need daily food, water, and exercise (Children’s Hospital Colorado, 2024). Practicing responsibility, in turn, builds confidence (Bomzer, 2024). Pets can provide companionship to children and help them feel less lonely (Children’s Hospital Colorado). Children can practice building trust with pets and learn to be gentle and kind (Trautner, 2017; Winters & Herron, 2021). Pets can help regulate emotions and build empathy and compassion. Children can learn to watch the bodies of pets and in some doing come to read nonverbal cues. Pets provide opportunities to process grief and loss. Many of the skills children learn with pets transfer to human relationships.

For adopted children, pets can play a special role in healing. The needs of pets can help children recognize and name their own needs, especially when caregivers may have not been able to meet those needs early on (Adopters for Adoption, 2022). Children from hard places may initially feel safer with pets than with people, and the safety found with pets can eventually transfer to caregivers (Adoption & Beyond, n.d.). Pets can also be grounding and help with emotional regulation during times of transition. Pets can help facilitate structure and routine, which are important for children who may have grown up in very disorganized environments. Children may be able to see caregivers practice the TBRI life value of “gentle and kind” with pets more than with themselves (Winters & Herron, 2021). Specific benefits of pets may develop from the unique relationships children form with them.

Are pets for every family with children? No. There are some contraindications to having pets in the home. These may include, but are not limited to allergies, safety issues, and the financial cost. Parents should do their best to determine the fit of a pet for the family and the children within it. When pets are a good fit for a family, the benefits obtained through them may be endless.