People working in child care in Silver Spring, MD, agree with the experts that seeing kids grow and change is rewarding and intriguing. Children are like tiny sponges, taking up knowledge and learning everything they can about their surroundings. In a family, grandparents, parents, and siblings all substantially impact a child’s emotional growth. They are not the only factor influencing kids at home, though. Early childhood development can be positively impacted by growing up with a pet, which can also aid in establishing appropriate emotional regulation and mental health in kids.
Here are some benefits of letting your child grow up with a furry buddy, whether you currently have a pet at home or are considering adding a new member to your family.
Children’s feelings are fluid and new, and it takes time for them to gain the confidence they need to understand and talk about them in healthy ways. According to studies, pets make kids feel more at ease, validated, and safe, which enables them to express their emotions instead of repressing them, according to studies. Animals provide solace to children since they don’t judge them, allowing them to engage and express themselves more freely. Children who have a furry buddy as a child experience improved mental health and are less likely to experience difficulties controlling their emotions and interacting in a prosocial way with their classmates.
Caregivers at a Silver Spring child care center understand that negative emotions are common among kids. Children require a safe avenue to feel and express these feelings. Having an animal nearby can help kids process their emotions since they know their pet won’t judge them or assume they should feel differently. Improving emotional expression in children enables them to better understand their emotions, control intense sentiments, and open the door to discussing their feelings with adults.
Pets can be emotionally comforting for children but also require care and attention in return. Attending day care in Silver Spring, MD, can help kids learn how to communicate and interact with others, so can owning and caring for a pet.
Pets may teach us important lessons about respect, empathy, connection, and setting limits. Children’s capacity for empathy, compassion, and the ability to create close ties is triggered by the care and connection that pets require.
In other words, they help kids learn how to build healthy ties and trust. Playing with a pet allows people to interact with another person while developing their capacity for reciprocity and give-and-take.
Most of the time, children are more aware of their surroundings than we think. It’s normal for kids to act out the emotions of the people around them, both good and bad. They are very aware of and sensitive to how people move and speak. Animals in the home can help a child learn to care about others.
Emotional intelligence is built upon a foundation of empathy. As a kid grows up, they change from being self-centered to caring more about how others feel and what they need. To make deep bonds, you must learn to be empathetic.
As kids care for, play with, or just hang out with their pets, they form mental bonds with them and learn about their own needs and the needs of others. They understand that their feelings can be the same and different from those around them. Pets help kids learn an important part of empathy: how to understand how others feel and what they say. With empathy, they can understand other people’s actions and feelings and act accordingly.
Pets are often like family members, so they can teach the whole family how to deal with loss when they die. Pets teach us that grief is complicated, that change is hard, and everyone heals in their own way.
Children do better when they can choose how to deal with the loss and remember their pets and when a loving adult asks them what they need as they heal. This helps children learn how to deal with problems and how important it is to build a network of people they can count on when they need help.
As kids get older, they may think about their lives and try to find a sense of meaning. This need for a reason to live can be thought of as something only adults have, but it starts at a very young age. Having a pet allows kids to care for another living thing and make a difference in its life. Kids may not know everything there is to know about taking care of a pet, but they can tell when something is wrong with their furry friend.
As we’ve already said, kids feel very close to their pets and want to make them happy. When pets are happy, it’s easy to see and makes everyone feel good. As a parent, you can teach your child to be caring and responsible with their pet by giving them small tasks to do for their pet. Children can feel needed by doing easy things for their pets, like feeding them, brushing their fur, and taking them for a walk. Or, they can show them tricks or give them orders.
The more a child interacts with their pet and realizes that they influence their lives and health, the happier they will feel. Even though these things may not seem like much, they can improve a child’s confidence and sense of self-worth. Your kids will also enjoy the extra benefit of being more active and getting more exercise.
Pets that are fun to play with also bring good energy into the home and get kids moving. Kids usually feel better when they play and use up some of their energy. Pets can keep a toddler from getting upset, change the mood of a cranky preschooler, or get a teen to put down their Xbox and go on a nature walk. And kids can tell their secrets to their pets, which will never be told to anyone else.
Families must make a lifelong commitment to their pets. However, these companion animals can be helpful for children during their formative years if your family has the resources, the time, and no one is allergic. They can boost youngsters’ mental and physical health and aid in developing emotional control, social skills, responsibility, and other abilities. The next time your kid asks for a pet because their friend from day care in Silver Spring, MD, has one, think about the advantages while you make your choice. You might discover that having one would be advantageous for the entire family.
MCCA has been recognized by the Maryland State Legislature for its commitment to Montgomery County issued a quality programs and special needs child care Proclamation in 2016 to MCCA for its commitment to Montgomery County child care for more than 50 years. MCCA was also selected as a 2018 nonprofit finalist for a MOXIE Award for boldness and innovation
MCCA is the oldest nonprofit licensed child care provider in Montgomery County and started its work in 1968 as a Community Action Project of the War on Poverty. Recognizing the need for quality child care programs in their neighborhoods, a group of local activists formed an association to establish centers in Montgomery County that would serve a diverse population and establish high standards for child care. Now, more than 50 years later, MCCA’s dedicated and expertly trained staff continue their tradition of providing high quality child care and play-based education for children.
Families with school aged children who can afford their child care expenses during the school year often struggle to afford the all-day programs they need when school is out for the summer. The Richard Krampf Summer Adventures Scholarship Fund was established to help provide children a safe and stimulating place to spend their weeks when school is out. Please contact an MCCA Director for details on how to apply.