A kid begging to be allowed a pet is a very common feature of family life. From common pets like cats and dogs, to less usual ones such as turtles or guinea pigs, kids will often spend weeks or months (if not years) asking their parents to buy them a pet. What many of them don’t realize, however, is that owning an animal doesn’t only bring us joy, but also responsibility. Here are some tips on how to teach your kids to do their share of caring for the family pet.

Taking the dog to the park

Dogs are one of the types of pet that kids tend to love the most, but they are also one of the most demanding pets in terms of time and energy that you need to spend on them. One of the reasons for this is, of course, that dogs need walking several times a day. If you are lucky enough to live close to a park, take your kids and your dog and let them play together. If the dog is new to the family it might need some encouragement, in which case you can look at this list for games that your kids and your dog will probably enjoy playing together. The more trips to the park you all take, the more you can let your kids take responsibility for certain dog care tasks, such as scooping up poop or holding the leash – provided that they’re strong enough! Your kids will get used to the many tasks involved in taking a dog out for a walk and once they are old enough, they can start taking the dog out by themselves.

Taking a pet to the vet

Trips to the vet are a necessity for every pet owner, and your kids need to learn as soon as possible that pets, like humans, need proper healthcare and nutrition. Choosing a vet clinic with flexible scheduling and walk-in appointments, such as the twenty practices run by easyvet.com, will ensure that your kids can always accompany you when you need to take the family pet in for a medical visit, regardless of how many after school and weekend activities they are signed up for! Again, by including your kids in these visits you will be teaching them how to care for their pet, both in terms of which treatments are needed and in terms of how to transport the animal to the vet and back home – not easy if you have a cat or a caged pet! As your kids get older, taking responsibility for vet appointments will prepare them for a more independent life.

Feeding the pets

Nobody likes chores, but they need to be done! According to child development website pathways.org you can start to give children without developmental delays small chores from as early as two years old, and by the time they are five or six your kids should be able to feed pets by themselves. This will help your kid learn how to stick to a routine, and it is guaranteed to make them feel good about themselves for being able to take care of another being!