Getting your child involved with the pet care chores in your household is an excellent opportunity for them to develop valuable skills and a greater sense of responsibility. Slowly introducing kid-friendly pet-related tasks to your child’s daily routine helps your child gain a sense of pride and accountability. Here are three age-appropriate pet chores you can gradually introduce into your child’s routine.
Assisting with Dog Walking
For children under the age of seven, dog walking should not be a responsibility they handle on their own. When they are young, their strength and motor skills are not quite ready to take on the pull of a dog on a leash. However, they can still help by accompanying a parent for daily dog walks. This is a great way for them to learn about proper safety and the importance of exercise. For children over the age of seven, walking the dog alone may be safe, depending on your child’s maturity level, strength, and disposition.
Helping with Meal Times
All pets look forward to meal time. As such, some pets may be too excited for your child to safely place their bowl down. However, young children can still get involved with this chore by helping their parents prepare the bowls. We recommend having an adult measure the food and allowing the child to pour it. This teaches them about routine and commitment. For older children, meal time can be handled on their own.
Learning About Grooming
Grooming is vital to your pet’s emotional and physical well-being. What better way to strengthen the bond between your child and your pet while also promoting a sense of responsibility for your child than by helping them learn about grooming? For young children, start off small. Teach them about brushing your cat or dog. Encourage them to be gentle and show them how it’s done before leaving them to their own devices. For older children, you may encourage them to get involved with bath time. While this may be challenging for them to navigate alone, they can assist by handing you the soap or towel while you show them how to wash the pet.
For more ideas on how to get your child more involved with your household pet care responsibilities, contact your local veterinarian today.