If a family has a pet, it can help to balance the mental and emotional health of that child. Family pets are incredibly common across the US and a lot of the western world. Dogs and cats, and all kinds of furry friends, are welcomed into a family and they are considered one of them. They are cared for and loved unconditionally, and they return this love in spades.

However, pets can offer so much more than just a cute being to cuddle, and they may be offering health benefits for children that parents may not have considered, and it could inspire some parents to go out and welcome a pet into their own homes.

Vedrana Nikolic is a Writer and Anthropologist who studies the communications found between humans and animals. Nikolic has compiled and shared with Moms information that was aimed at raising awareness on how beneficial dogs are for children when it comes to mental and emotional health benefits.

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The benefits of a family having a dog are endless, but one thing that not a lot of adults may have recognized is the impact they can have on a child’s physical health. As children become more dependent on a screen for entertainment, their physical activity level can decrease. When a dog is introduced, it can help inspire and motivate children to get up and get outside.

Dogs can also be a great social teacher for children. A study was published in Pediatric Research in 2020 that found that children between the ages of 2 and 3 years old were shown to be more sociable when they had a dog at home. These children also had an easier time managing their behaviors.

Speaking of behaviors, Vedrana from Gentle Dog Trainers, also highlighted the benefits of a dog on managing emotions. Children have big emotions and can have a difficult time regulating them and expressing them in an “appropriate way.”

This is due to dogs being “non-judgmental” by nature and it can help children become more aware of their emotions and may help them better control them. There is also a reason dogs are often used as emotional support for adults who are suffering from depression and anxiety; they have a calming effect, and this can translate to children as well.

Vedrana stated that interacting with a dog could become a comforting thing to a child. Another thing a dog can teach a child is responsibility, as they take on some of the chores related to caring for a living being. Tasking children with chores like feeding, walking, and picking up after their dog, children learn skills that will lead them well in life.

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Sources: Vedrana Nikolic, Pediatric Research