Little Helpers

How to get kids to help with pets and build bonds.

Having a pet is a wonderful thing, but with joy also comes the taking care of them. When you are juggling taking the kids to school and activities, work, and everything else, adding the care of a pet to your list can seem daunting.

So here’s some great news – get the kids involved to help take away some of the overwhelm!

Here are a few ways that kids can help with the family pet while building bonds as the same time. Note: parental supervision is a must when first starting these activities and kids should know what actions are and are not appropriate.

Feeding – This is probably one of the easiest “chores” that kids can help with. Not only does the child assume some responsibility in the care of the pet, but the pet will see the child as a positive influence. Be sure that the child understands that once the food is placed in the bowl, he/she needs to move away from the area to let the pet eat in peace.

Reading – Kids reading to pets have so many benefits. Children who struggle with reading can pick up a book and read to a pet without being judged on their reading skills. Pets can enjoy a more peaceful interaction with children.

Playtime – Kids and pets both have energy to expend. Why not have them release that energy together? A fun game of tag or fetch in the backyard is a great way to get them outside for you to have a moment of peace. Need an indoor alternative? Have your child engage in a game of hide and seek with the pet.

Need a great, durable toy for your pet to play with outdoors? Check out the Kong flyer.

Training – Basic training with a pet is a must for everyone in the household. Make training more fun by having your child play a game of “freeze” with your pet (the pet has to stay until given permission to move) or teaching some fun tricks like jumping through a hula hoop or crawling under a chair.

Pupperoni is great to use as a training treat for kids to use with their pups! They are easy to break into smaller pieces and you don’t have to worry about kids hands getting messy.

These are just a few ways that you can get the kids involved in taking care of pets and take one task off of your list. Got another idea of how kids can help with pets at home? Drop a comment below.

See you next time! – Grace