Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Kids and Pets

Kids always bug their parents about getting a dog or cat and use reasons like "It will teach me responsibility"..."I can be in charge of walking and feeding him"..etc.  This article actually takes a scientific look at the situation.

124 comments:

Anonymous said...

HahahahahhahahahahahhahahHahaha second comment !!!!!:) jk it's really the the first comment

blah blah blah said...

I think that by having a pet can be beneficial to a child.
For example, the article explains that a common belief is that having a pet promotes effective body language. Also, it states that pets can also be a releiver of stress. For these reasons do I believe that pets can be beneficial for a child.

blah blah blah said...

@ Anonymous
I do not understand what you are doing on this website. For example, you made a completely random comment that is neither educational nor logical. Also, your response does is not even remotely related to the article.For these reasons do I not understand what you are doing on this website.

mnm said...

I think having a pet around a baby will have negative affects because it can cause allegies at an earlier age and the pet may be provoked and bite the child which will then cause the family to cast the poor lonely dog out of their home.

mnm said...

I think a pet for an older child would be good because having a pet will teach the kid to think of someone else before themselves so they will learn skills to become responsible. also i think having a pet for a kid is good because it will reduce obesity if they have to walk their dogor cat every day.

Jessm said...

I think that if families are able they should have a pet like a dog in their house. Not only does it teach responsibility it also has many positive effects on children, and the article proves it. Studies show that when kids have mental or physical diseases, or can't connect and create relationships with humans, that they might be able to create bonds with a pet. Being with their pet can help escape family issues, to not be with other humans, but not be alone. Pets will also help kids immune systems, social skills, and even health. Therefore pets should be encouraged to have in families because of all their positive affects.

Gabby P said...

I think that having a pet around a house would be very helpful. I think this because parents try to get us to be responsible for only ourselves and having a pet can show them that you can care for you and something with a life. Also when you walk the dog it gives you exercise at least once a day. So in conclusion dogs can provide a better life style for kids who need to learn to be more responsible and exercise more than once a week.

Gabby P said...

@Jessm
I agree 100 percent with your opinion. I agree with you because you can see that it will enhance the way you child will use life. For example you said that it will enhance responsibility and it can create relationships with human when a child with a disease has a pet.

Anonymous said...

I learned that pets, such as cats or dogs, do help in children's' lives because they provide emotional support. In the article is says, "The strongest evidence of the importance of pets, Dr. Melson said, comes from children themselves, who often cite pets as sources of emotional support." Therefore, having pets does help your children by providing emotional support.

AVgleek17 said...

I feel like this article is right when it talks about pets changing children's behavior and actions. For example, when I first got my dog, I smiled a lot more. She relieved all my stress and nothing made me happier than seeing her waiting fro me when I got off the bus. Because of that, I ended up being a bit more cheerful and then spending more time downstairs with the dog and eventually with my family. Pets are kind of like a chain reaction when it comes to the things it will do to you. Plus, having any pet creates responsibility in a kid, and it can result in more exercise, which makes you a healthier person. In the end, having a pet has lots of benefits that can definitely persuade a parent to get a pet.

AVgleek17 said...

@Jessm,
I agree with you! It has been proven that kids with reading challenges, for example can boost up their comprehension level when they read to dogs. It's because the dogs are trained to listen to the kids, so they feel like the center of attention, which is what they need. The ways a dog can affect a human, kids in particular is really indescribable. But the outcome is always positive because of all the problems that can be erased with a single bark. And I feel like you think the same ways on how aspects of pets can help you in many ways.

Language Arts Student said...

I think that this article was right saying how pets such as dogs and cats help a child's brain think. In the article it said "Pets affect so many children in so many ways — immune systems, developing social skills, exercise patterns, family circumstances. The effects may be positive, but it’s also true that families who choose to add a pet to the mix may be those who feel at least a small margin of comfort in income, living space and —perhaps above all, as I look at my own deficits — family organization and infrastructure." I think that this would help the children because the pets intreact with them so the mind of a child thinks that there will always be someone with/for them that they could go to. Parents and family could be at work or be busy cleaning the house but the dog or cat is a companion that will always stick with you and you have to remember that dogs are "Man's Best Friend". Therefore that is why i think that pets such as dogs and cats can really help a child in certain ways that a parent or human could not.

Ali M. said...

I think having pets in your life can change you significantly. For example, I have had a dog for my whole life. It has made me into a much more environmental person with a greater appreciation of the outdoors. Some of my friends who grow up without dogs have fears of all animals, and do not enjoy coming over to my house because they are to afraid of a harmless animal. When I was younger I had a dog named stormy. After she died there was a blank period, where my family did not get outside as often, and it felt like we were missing something. We got my new dog Tillie, and it forced us to take walks 2 or 3 times a day. My family and I take a lot of hikes in the wilderness and travel to many national parks because of having pets. Growing up with a pet in my house had shaped me and my family into a very outdoors environmental family.

Ali M. said...

I agree that dogs affect younger children. "Pets affect so many children in so many ways — immune systems, developing social skills, exercise patterns, family circumstances." My family is proof of this. I have never had any allergies, or problems with dust or hair. I am a very social person and know how to communicate with other people. My family is very connected and do not normally fight. We are constantly taking her on walks and traveling throughout the country to experience the outdoors. I do not know if this is all from my dog, but I do know that she may have influenced some things.

Anonymous said...

@Language Arts Student
I agree with you because the whole point of the article is to talk about how pets, such as cats and dogs, help children's lives like helping children's brains think. As you said, from the article, "Pets affect so many children in so many ways-immune systems, developing social skills, exercise patterns,...," which I still think is very interesting. Therefore, having pets around children will help improve a child's brain to think better.

Ryan said...

I don't think that in any way a pet could harm you mentally. I think that a pet can do nothing bad to you unless you are allergic to them.

Kevin O said...

I agree that dogs affect younger children. "Pets affect so many children in so many ways — immune systems, developing social skills, exercise patterns, family circumstances." My family could prove this. I do have allergies with dust mites and certain tree pollen. Ever since I got my two dogs My allergies have decreased and I'm not sick all throughout the spring. This is why I agree with the article.

Ryan said...

Science can tell you a lot, but something’s can’t be answered correctly with it and this is one of them. If you want to be a scientist you have to understand that data can’t tell you everything and sometimes you just have to take notes on something that can’t be measured. Some kids are quiet and that’s that you can’t think that it is the pet in the house that makes this particular kid quiet.

Lauren said...

After reading this article I think that having a dog is beneficial to kids. Not only does it teach responsibility, but it also like it said in the article get kids outside more. Also, I have a brother with autism and he enjoys being around dogs. Even though we don't have one later in life we may get one. Obesity is a big problem right now, but with a help of a pet, kids will enjoy getting outside more. Therefore, I feel that if a family is able to have a dog and can afford it then they should get one.

Lauren said...

@JessM I agree with you because in the article it talks about kids who have a hard time making friends or have mental problems benefit from having a pet around. Also the pet will promote more physical activities since you need to walk it for exercise.

Ghost said...

I don't think that having a dog will make you any leaner, smarter, and/or happier. Having a dog is just more work. Believe me I have a dog and having one is only a pain in the neck. first off, you have to walk him. And you have to get permission to walk him. Overall unless you are certain to have the very heavy responsibility of keeping a dog in your home be ready for your nice clean house to turn into a city ally.

MAtt W. said...

After reading the article I still keep my previous belief that owning a animal, especially a dog, is a wonderful thing. A dog teaches kids loyalty, for a dog never leaves a person or distrusts them. These lessons are essential to assuring that when the kids grow up to be loyal friends and workers. Having an animal also assures that the kids always have a friend for them, even through tough times.

Ghost said...

@ Kevin O'leary

Not trying to be a "party pooper " here but, for the 2 year I have had my dog I have seen no decrease in allergy levels or any signs of a better immune system because of having a dog in my house. Now i'm not saying having a dog is a bad thing, but I believe that having a dog will not help in terms of germs.

Matt W. said...

@Ghost I think you need to think a little more positively. When you come home from school and your dog runs up to you with its tongue hanging out, looking cute, don't you love him? I don't have a dog and you don't know what I would do to get a dog. I have grown up with everyone else having a dog and it felt to me like I was the only one who didn't have one. I want a dog so bad, to have a friend who always is there and is cute.

Unknown 7 said...

I think that having a pet can really help people physically and mentally. People who have autism can learn to communicate better with others and be more social. People who need to lose weight by walking their pet every day. The animal needs the exercise while it helps you burn off calories. Also, the pet can lift your mood when your day is beak. When you are bored, you can go play catch with your dog. That's why I think that having a pet can help people in both ways, physically and mentally.

Anonymous said...

In this article it states how basically if you are exposed to pets at an early age than you sort of become immune to allergies over time. "Quite a few studies now suggest that early exposure to animals may have a protective effect. A recent review article that examined a large number of studies found evidence that in children with no family history of allergy, those exposed to dogs in the perinatal period may be less likely to develop allergies." This interests me because you would think constantly having pets around and living with them 24/7 you would develop new sicknesses or allergies towards them or the diseases they carry,but actually you can become immune to them. This quote shows how having pets in your home actually has a positive affect on a human's immune system.

Language Arts Student said...

@Matt W
I agree with you that owning an animal, especially a dog, is a wonderful thing. A dog teaches kids loyalty, for a dog never leaves a person or distrusts them. These lessons are essential to assuring that when the kids grow up to be loyal friends and workers. Having an animal also assures that the kids always have a friend for them, even through tough times. I think that this is really important and that having an animal/ pet with you to help you especially a child because they will look at the world differently because of the loyalty and the parts were the learn how they are opened minded and in the real world they will be good to have this skill with them throughout out there life time because i twill should them how to deal with situations.Therefore that is why i agree with you and believe that a pet is beneficially for a child.

Unknown 7 said...

@Jessm
I agree with you because I also think that owning a pet is a good thing. It can make a child responsible by taking care of the pet. According to the article, it helps create relationships between others by bonding with their pet. It also helps improve their immune systems. The pet also requires walks. So if you need to lose weight, then walking with your pet will give you a fun time and help you lose calories. That's why I agree with you that having a pet is a good thing.

KirillR98 said...

I think that it is a good idea to have a pet in the house. I think this because pets can teach many kids responsibility. Pets can also get children to get outside and get exercise instead of sitting inside all day and playing Xbox. This is why having a dog in the family is truly a good idea.

sethblog said...

I do believe pets could be beneficial to young children and adults. I think this because in the article it states that there are dogs in some court rooms to act as a stress reliever. Also it says that children and adults that are obese should have a dog because when they go out for walks, not only is the dog getting exercise but so it its owner.

Hash_slinging_slasher said...

I Believe that having a dog or cat around a new born can harm it. Some things that the animal could do is give the baby allergies early on and will be stuck with it throughout it's life. Another thing that the baby might do is provoke the dog and annoy the dog or cat making it bite or slash at the baby. This could not just harm the baby, but the animal to. This is why I think that having a dog or a cat around a baby is a bad idea.

Peter P said...

I think that having a pet in the house is beneficial to kids because kids can learn responsibility and help them get through tough times. Also, it can get kids outside and exercising. The article says," Quite a few studies now suggest that early exposure to animals may have a protective effect." This will also keep children thinking they are safe. That's why having a pet will be beneficial to a child.

!DANCE! said...

I think that growing up with a pet has many benifits. This is becasue the children would grow up with animals and would not be afraid of them. My friend never had a dog and she is afraid of mine when it would not even hurt a fly. Also, it helps children feel more save at home when they are alone. If the child has a dog that is a guard dog, (like a Boxer dog) it could guard the family and most importantly the child. That is why I think it is a good idea for a family to have a pet.

!DANCE! said...

@Jessm
I agree with you when you said that pets require a lot of responsibility. I think this becasue you would have to feed it, give it water, groom it, play with it, walk it (if it is a dog), etc. A pet is pretty much like another child because you have to do the same things as a child. I thikn that a pet is a lot of responsibility and it seems like you think that too. That is why I agree with you.

Sarah L said...

@Gabby P
I agree with you because I think having a pet like a dog around the house could get lazy kids off the couch to go play fetch or run around. You said, "Also when you walk the dog it gives you exercise at least once a day." In the end pets can be a healthy choice for your kids.

Kotonashi said...

I think that having a dog will get lazy kids off the couch and outside. I think this because you will get a lot of exercise out of a dog because of walking and playing. Walking the dog will get a kid outside at least twice a day and get some fresh air. Playing with them will also give you and the dog exercise and you both will have some fun in the progress.

Evan F said...

I think that having a dog can benefit a child. I think this because in the article it says that it can help promote body language skills which are good because this helps people understand what you are trying to say without as much detail. Also It helps get rid of the couch potatoes that our society is riddled with. This makes more kids active making the average American not obese like they are now. This is why have a dog is good.

Evan F said...

@ Peter P I agree with you because responsibility is important to teach kids and dogs do this perfectly this means that parents can trust kids more making them independent which is needed later on in life. This is why I agree with you.

Anonymous said...

When AnCh373 said..."having pets does help your children by providing emotional support." it made me think of all those movies like that Disney movie (i don't remember what it was called) I remember watching that movie and reading a book when i was younger (i don't remember what it was called either) and in those books and movies children would talk to their pets or mostly dogs for emotional support; to get their personal feelings out or if they just wanted to talk to someone because no one would listen. And I thought about it and people do actually do that in real life but i never thought it would actually help someone. For example in the article, "The strongest evidence of the importance of pets, Dr. Melson said, comes from children themselves, who often cite pets as sources of emotional support.'The animal is available when you come home from school, she continued. Some species will give you at least the illusion of unconditional acceptance'" This quote shows how actually talking to a pet does help you it is not just something people do because their pet is just there at their feet.

Emerson18 said...

I believe that pets do help a child in life. For example, if they are nice to the pet, they are more likely to be nice to other people. Also, a successful and caring relationship with a pet will help a child have better relationships with people. Therefore, since having a pet will positively impact how children act towards other people, pets help children in life.

Emerson18 said...

I believe that pets do help a child in life. For example, if they are nice to the pet, they are more likely to be nice to other people. Also, a successful and caring relationship with a pet will help a child have better relationships with people. Therefore, since having a pet will positively impact how children act towards other people, pets help children in life.

Emerson18 said...

@ Kotonashi I agree with you that pets even help kids physically. If kids play fetch with a dog, both the dog and the kid get exercise by running around, and the kid throws it. Also, walking a dog is healthy for you too. It gives you at least one active, outside activity a day. Dr. Johnson says, "This is a highly motivating physical activity, when children walk with a dog." Therefore, since pets can get kids outside and make them healthier, pets help kids physically.

G-MAN said...

This article shows research by people that love pets, because things they say pets help with are common sense and do not need pets. The first example is obesity, pets supposedly stop childhood obesity because walking your dog is exercise. Everyone should know this! Obviously, exercising is going to help you lose weight, it is not new information that burning calories will help a fat person stop being overweight. Second, is communication skills, social skill, and autism. Dogs help with these things because lonely kids that do not have friends play with their dogs. Any social relationship will do the same things these dogs and cats have done for kids. Lastly, is allergies. To build up your immnune system or resistance to allergies you need to be exposed with things that will make you sick or you will be allergic to. It is the same principle a vaccine works on. The reason pets help for allergies is their dirty! They have hairs that make people allergic which they leave all over the place. These pets, which can be disgusting are being praised for not doing anything. A dog is high maintenance, it needs to be walked so kids who walk dogs lose wait. Obvious. Children talk to their dogs and interact to them so they develop social skills. Wait, wouldn't a regular human to human relationship do the same thing? And last, pets help with allergies because they are filthy. People are allergic to the hairs that they leave all over but if you are exposed to pet hair at a young age you are less likely to be allergic to it later in life.

G-MAN said...

@Ali M
You beleive a dog is beneficial and talk about how you do not have allergies, are fit and are social, but I think your dog changed none of these things because the way you are/live makes it so you are not obese, do not have allergies, and have good social skills. You are a very active person and have mentioned how you do gymnastics everyday and other physical activites. The amout of exercise you recieve from these sports is much a much greater amount than what walking a dog would be. Second, you say you do not have any allergies but you have mentioned how outdoorsy you are. From being outdors you are surrounded by allergens such as pollen so you have become "immune to them". Lastly, you mentioned your social skills and how you have great social skills because you have so many. You seem to be a very amiable person and from that friendliness you have developed relationships. These human relationships I believe have shaped you ability to interact with others far more that one with a dog would because a dog is not human and the relationship gives you dominance. There are no replies from a dog and you do not have to worry about emotions. On the other hand your friendships wit people will give you all of the social skills needed in life. Therefore, I believe that you are creditting your dog with things that it has not made happen because your lifestyle is the cause for these positive "effects".

Man on the Moon said...

Kids should not have pets because it is only an excuse for wasting money, time and keeping an animal captive against its will. Kids should not get pets first of all because it will cost at least $1600 and in this economy that for some people can be the difference between starving for some weeks or being able to eat. Also it takes time to take care of them and if something happens in the middle of day to the pet and child doesn't know what to do(Like usual) it takes away from your day and time is money. So then you are losing more money. Then the kids get attached(Like they do to everything even though you should never be attached to anything) and then then they cry and cry. Then after sometime they have to make a burial site for the animal. Another thing is that it isn't supposed to be yours it should be left alone with the rest of nature. So therefore everyone not just children should get a pet for these three reasons attachment, time and money.

Man on the Moon said...

Peter P I don't agree with you because you say it is beneficial and to have a dog is a great responsibility. But I completely disagree because a dog cost way to much money to own and don't think paying $1600 for a dog that probably doesn't want to be with you is beneficial. Also you say that kids should learn responsibility but there is other ways of learning responsibility without putting a poor dog at risk. So therefore with it costing so much much money and putting another animal at risk of death I don't think it is beneficial.

Emma said...

I think that after reading this article having a dog is beneficial to all kids in different ways. It teaches the kids to take responsibility by having jobs like having to feed and walk the dog every day. Having to walk the dogs every day will help kids to get outside more and get more exercise the obesity percentage will decrease. Also, according to the article it says," kids with autism enjoy being around dogs and it makes them happy and excited. Dogs are helpful in many ways and i should try to get my parents to get me a dog.

Emma said...

Lauren said....“Not only does it teach Responsibility" I agree with Lauren because having of a dog is a lot or responsibility and work but it is worth it. It teaches kids so much. Like with a dog they may have to walk the dog or feed the dog. This is why dogs help responsibility.

Anirbas said...

I think that having a pet is beneficial for kids. I think this because in the article it says that it is helping kids with non-verbal communication, because they have had the experience of not talking to their dog or cat, but still caring for it. Therefore, when a kid with a pet meets another kid, they will be more likely to understand their actions than a kid who lives without a pet. I think that this is a very good point. This is why I think that kids are benefiting (at least they are socially) off of having a household pet.

Anirbas said...

Mnm said, "I think a pet for an older child would be good because having a pet will teach the kid to think of someone else before themselves so they will learn skills to become responsible. also i think having a pet for a kid is good because it will reduce obesity if they have to walk their dogor cat every day"
I agree with these points. First, a pet owner can't just think of them self if they are responsible for another living creature's life.For example, it is crucial that a pet owner feeds their pet every day, even if it means they must find someone else to feed the dog or cat when they are vacationing or just going away for a few days. Secondly, I do think that mnm is right when he or she says that it can reduce obesity. If a kid owns a dog, especially a puppy, they must walk it, or chase it when it runs after the neighbor's cat, etc. Therefore it is forcing the kid to exercise, which can reduce that kid's chance of obesity. Because of this, I think mnm is right, and having a pet is good for kids.

Pandanut12 said...

I think that it's important to grow up with pets because it will help keep you healthier and will strengthen your social skills. In the article, it says that early exposure to animals may help you not develop allergies, and walking the family dog can help battle obesity. Also, it says that maybe animal-owning children are a bit more aware unconsciously and haave learned nonverbal communication. Not having allergies, being obese, or having undeveloped social skills is good, so this is why it's good to grow up with animals.

Pandanut12 said...

@Man On The Moon
It's my turn to completely disagree with YOU because most dogs aren't that expensive and they love to be with people! It is better to get your animals from a shelter, first of all, so that you can help them out as well as yourself. Also, I have looked up shelter dog prices and they are around the $300-$400 price range. And people tend not to get dogs who show they don't like them, like if the dog growls or bites them. Therefore they are not that expensive, you will be doing the opposite of putting that dog at risk, and would a dog who didn't like you wag his tail, lick your face, sleep on your bed and sit by your side? This is why I disagree with you. Show some love!

YouJustGotCerved said...

I think having a pet can be beneficial to someone. This is because having a pet will teach kids responsibility by having to feed a pet and take it for walks etc. Also, it will teach kids not to always think that getting something that you have to be responsible for isn't always a good idea. This is because some kids will get a dog and then not feel like feeding it, so they will take that into consideration next time they want to invest their responsibility in something.

YouJustGotCerved said...

@mnm
I agree with because having a pet like a dog around babies could have a negative effect. This is because the baby could develop allergies to pets at a younger age.

RyanT. said...

I believe that having a pet in the house is a good thing. This is because it can influence children to be nicer to other people and animals. And with a pet around at a young age, it can teach you responsibility. Although in some cases it is bad. For example you could become attached to it and when it dies, be devastated. Even though that fact seems bad, it could be a good thing considering that it could allow them to except death and not live in the past. Overall I think that a pet is the house is a wonderful thing.

RyanT. said...

@Anonymous

I do not believe that Mr.Horvath would be proud of your work. This is because your comment was: HahahahahahhahahahahahahahahhaahahahH second comment!!!!!:) jk it's really the first comment. If you were to turn that in to Horvath I don't think he would like it all that much. This blog is for work, and practice on sew statements. It is not for comments like yours. That is why I do not believe that Horvath would be proud of your work here.

abc123comewithme said...

I think that pets are mostly beneficial; for example having a dog around a younger child (say 4 or 5) helps the child's immunity. i think this is good because the allergey will not stand in the child's way if he/she wanted to be a vet or a dog trainer. therefore I think that pets are very benificial because they can give a child the benifit of working with animals later on in life.

abc123comewithme said...

@ Anonomous
I think that what blah blah blah said is very true; I don't understand the point of your comment because it has NOTHING to do with the topic of this artical. I recommend that in the futer you do not write comments that have no revelence to the topic.

NonStop said...

I think that having a pet in the family will help the kids. I think this because having a pet will teach the kids responsibility, and will help with obesity in children. I know this because in the article it said that, "With so many children struggling with obesity, dog-walking is being investigated as a strategy to increase exercise in children — as some studies have shown it can do in adults. This is a highly motivating physical activity, when children walk with a dog,” Therefore it is helping them get more responsible and helps obesity.

NonStop said...

@AVgleek17 I agree when my cat had 4 kittens it made me smile. And when I am sad, I go up to my kitten and suddenly the sadness is gone and the happiness is back. That is why pets change children's behavior and actions.

Michelle R. said...

I believe that pets can have a very positive impact on a child's life. For example, owning and caring for a pet helps teach responsibility. Also pets provide a support system for emotional problems. A kid could feel a strong connection with the dog that could help with social and emotional skills. Lastly, dogs need to be walked. Walking a dog could give kids an excuse to exercise which could help keep them in shape. Therefore pets have a tremendous positive impact in a child's life.

Michelle R. said...

@Hash_slinging_slasher
Isn't it obvious that a pet can be dangerous around a newborn. First a pet could danger the baby. It could unintentionally hurt the baby by scratching, biting, or stepping on the baby. Also dogs could carry around fleas or diseases that babies could catch. Babies get sick easily and therefore pets probably shouldn't be around them. Lastly, pets can scare babies by their size or energy. Crying babies aren't very easy to calm down, so pets are probably best elsewhere when a newborn is in the house.

Cav98 said...

I think that having a pet will teach kids responcibilities. I think this because when you get a pet you need to focus on it not on what you want to do. for example when i got my dog i had to get up 15 minutes earlier, walk it almost every hour and then also clean up after it. This taught me to be resposiblee because i needed to care for my dog to keep her heathy even if it ment i couldn't do every thing i wanted to do.

JMM126 said...

I think having a pet in the house is beneficial because it benefits children's lives because the article said,"There is some evidence, but it’s largely anecdotal, that bringing a dog into these households has a dramatic effect on the behavior of these kids'' Also, kids struggling with obesity will want to be more active with an active pet that will seek attention. They will play around, go walks, and run around. Having a pet also boosts the children's immune systems, developing social skills, exercise patterns, family circumstances. Therefore, it is mainly beneficial to the children's lives in many ways like obesity,immune systems, developing social skills, exercise patterns, and family circumstances.

JMM126 said...

@Non-Stop
I agree with you because the article did say that dog-walking is being investigated as a strategy to increase exercise in children. It will increase the activity the children do with the pets. Therefore, I agree with you because exercising is a very well strategy to persuade the children to exercise and play with the pets.

Jessm said...

I agree with Emma when you said that having a dog will also help kids get outside and exercise by walking and playing with their dog. When having a pet, getting them to exercise and be active comes with all the responsibilities. When pets have to exercise kids will exercise with them, getting kids active. Therefore I agree that having a dog or pet will help kids be active and exercise.

Anonymous said...

I think it is good for children to have pets because it can help them in many ways. In the article, it says that living with a pet teaches children skills they can use in their social interactions with other humans. Some children who have great difficulty with human social interactions can form bonds with animals. Also, pets are helpful to obese children because dog-walking can be a way for them to receive exercise every day. Pets affect so many children in so many ways — immune systems, developing social skills, exercise patterns, family circumstances, and most importantly, emotional support. Therefore, this is why I think pets are good for children to have.

Anonymous said...

I agree with you @Michele R because I also think that pets have a positive impact on a child’s life. You said that pets teach responsibility and supports a system for emotional problems. I think it also helps with social skills. Even in the article, it says that is helps obese children so they can receive exercise by walking their dog. This is why I agree with you.

KirillR98 said...

I think that having a pet will allow kids to learn responsibility. I think this because when you get a pet (dog or cat) you need focus on the pet itself but not on the things that you want to do. When I got a dog, I had to feed it before I ate my breakfast. After I was done eating breakfast, I had to walk the dog for 15 minutes before I even thought of going to school. All of this taught me to be responsible because I need to take of him to keep healthy even though I can't always do the things I want to.

KirillR98 said...

@Michelle R.
I agree with you because I also believe that pets can have a positive impact on a child's life. Owning and caring for a pet can teach responsibility. The kids will need to feed the pet everyday, at least twice a day. It can also get kids exercise because if they have a dog, the kid will need to walk it every day, multiple times through the day.

A Strange Person said...

I think that kids should be allowed to have pets. That is because they can teach the child responsibility. This occurs because the child must feed, walk, and house the pet. It can also make the child happier. I know personaly that having a pet can make life fun and cheer me up when im sad. So overall pets can make a childhood better than before.

panthers502 said...

I think that kids having pets is important. It's important for kids to have pets because it will teach them responsibility. That is why I think its important for kids to have pets.

Kate O. said...

I agree with this article that having a dog or cat in the household is a good thing, and not bad at all. In the article it was talking about kids with obesity, and they could get active with pets, because the pets would help them run around and play outside more. Also I think having a pet is good because some experts are saying that dogs can calm, or comfort children in stressful situations, usually medical or physical, which would help many children's lives. As you can see, I think that having a pet around is very beneficial

Kate O. said...

@Emma. I agree with you because I think having a pet does teach kids responsibility. Also as you said, it gives kids jobs to do like taking the pets outside, and giving them food and water. This will teach kids that their parents will not be able to do everything for them. They will learn to do things on their own, while helping the parents by taking care of the pets while they are busy. This is why I agree with you.

DR. Bubblesquash said...

I do not think that kid should have pets because if they are a young kid then all of their medical information may not be available, so they might have life-threatening allergies and might kill the child. Also, if the dog is adopted, the owners will probably not know the criminal past, and might be hostile and out of control.

DR. Bubblesquash said...

@mmm I agree with you that having a pet around will have negative affects because the pet will cause allergies and the dog will most likely bite the child before it can be tamed.

Emma said...

I think that having a pet can help in so many ways. Pets teach so much responsibility and will help you with getting more exercise. Kids will have jobs to take care of the dogs like feeding or walking the dog. It teaches kids to take responsibility. Dogs need daily walks and also need to go outside several times a day. This will help kids get more exercise because they are going outside and enjoying it.

Emma said...

Kate O. said.....
"I agree with this article that having a dog or cat in the household is a good thing, and not bad at all." I agree with Kate because according to the article having a dog can be positive in many ways like having kids taking responsibility, getting exercise and many more.

panthers502 said...

I agree with Emma because another great thing about having a pet as a kid means that kids will exercise more. It's important that this generation of kids stays healthy because we have a lot of over weight, obese, and Chubby kids. With animals this is less likely to happen because of a pet's physical, mental, and emotional needs. This is why I agree with Emma because having pets as a child could help children exercise.

sethblog said...

@mnm
I do agree with you. If a child at such a young age is exposed to an animal it could negatively affect the child. The child could become allergic to the animal, but i do not agree with the statement about the pet being provoked. pet usually gain the trust of young children and especially puppies they are getting used to the world much like the babies and they do not know whats going on, so in some ways they are very similar to each other.

Simeong said...

I think having pets would help those in need because examples a blind person they need their dogs to help them know when to cross the street or guide them to were their going. Or watch dogs peopl need these to guard there prized posetions or valiable items that are rare or expensive.

Peter P said...

@Evan F
I agree with you because you said that it will get rid of couch potatoes in our country which I think is true. I think so because taking walks and playing with them will get you exercising and at least off the couch. That's why I agree with you.

Kayleigh said...

Pets can help young kids. For young kids it teaches responisbity at a young age.It can help young kids learn to pick up after themselves.

Kayleigh said...

@ panther502
I agree with you about responablities for young kids

Muffin Man 101 said...

I think that having a pet will be a lot of work especially if you have a dog. They are a lot of work and sometime you cant always spend time on them. Kids play sports and are with their friends a lot, and sometimes parents aren't home. This can be a problem for the pet.

cookie said...

@Anirbas
I agree with you that having a pet decreases child obesity. The reason I agree is that lots of kids usually play video games or watch tv all day but with a dog you have to go outside to walk the dog which can help you get exercise which will keep you from getting fat.
I know this because I was one of those kids but then i got a dog and had to go outside to walk her and i'm not chubby what so ever.

i'm bored said...

@Muffin Man 101
I agree with you that lots of people don't always have time for there pets.I agree with you because between homework,extracircrular activities and hanging out with friends I barely have time to take care of my dog.

ZAMZAM said...

I think that owning a pet is beneficial for kids. A pet teaches kids essential life lessons and teaches them to be responsible. I have a dog and out of my busy schedule, I have to make time to feed her, take her for walks, and spend time with her. Honestly, having a dog has helped me become better at managing my time and becoming more of a responsible kid. I'm sure it's done the same for other kids. Therefore, that is why I think that having a pet is beneficial for kids.

ZAMZAM said...

@Muffin Man 101
I agree that having a pet is a lot of work especially if you have a dog. It is hard to manage your time and sometimes you don't have enough time for them. Kids play sports and hang out with their friends a lot, and sometimes parents aren't home. This wouldn't give the dog enough attention and it can be a problem for the it.

edemace said...

I think its good and bad because scientifically it could cause problems like allergies. Also it could cause diseases. But physically its good because it may cause responsibility and if they are clean then it cannot cause diseases

edemace said...

@ ZAMZAM
I agree with you because it does benfit kids because they have someone to play with and they get exercise. Also you're right, you have to make time for them so you have to have a schedule and not just go, " oh ill do it around this time." no you have to get it done.

Anonymous said...

I think that having a dog at home is a major advantage with young children. This is because it will teach them how to interact with others and not be hurtful. Also, it will get children into a habit of exercising daily like the article said. Both of these are very important habits that you may not get into without a pet to help you. That is why I think that pets are very important to have in a young child's life.

Anonymous said...

@ZAMZAM
I agree with you that having pets is beneficial for kids. Like you said, "A pet teaches kids essential life lessons and teaches them to be responsible." I think that this is 100% true. As it said in the article, what parents have said for years about being a pet owner teaching responsibility is true. This is good and I think that everyone should have a pet for this reason. That is why I agree with you.

Ben H said...

I think pets are good for kids because it won't just teach them responsibility; it will also be good to cheer his/her up if they are in a bad mood, or if they are lonely.

Ben H said...

@blah blah blah
I agree that it can be a stress reliever, because there have been millions of times where I have been stressed or upset, and my cat won't leave me alone. My cat has even been my alarm clock sometimes!

Logan S. said...

I think that pets are great for kids because it will teach them to trust in them and not be scared of anything. They will also teach them responsibility to take care of something or someone. For example when they get older they will have to know how to take care of their kids and maybe take care of their parents or grandparents. If they are alone on a school day the pet will cheer them up and keep them company. They will always be there for you.

disneydancer12 said...

I think that the whole "it will teach me responsibility" thing is just kids saying what their parents want to hear. Most kids start out feeding their pets, but forget about it and have their parents do it. this does not teach ony responsibility.

disneydancer12 said...

@ben h i agree. i do think that pets can cheer kids up. if they had or are having a bad day, they can play with their pets and have a better time.

Logan S. said...

I agree with you Ben H because I too thought that pets would teach you responsibility but I thought that the responsibility would be helpful for when they have kids and when their parents are elderly and need help and can't drive anywhere. They would also cheer he or she up if they were upset or lonely.

marktex5025 said...

I do agree that pets will teach responsibility to children because they will learn to take care of something really important. For example, kids like me will always lose something, like our iPods or phones. But once you get a pet, and HAVE to know where they are, and HAVE to give them care, it will make things like losing items not happen as often. Therefore, by responsibly treating pets, it will be able to strengthen your responsibilty for other things too.

marktex5025 said...

@Ben H.
I agree that pets will be able to cheer kids up (when they're in bad moods) because you can talk to them about anything (even though they won't understand). For example, we've all had bad days at school. And there are times where you just need to get out your anger, or to tell someone, even if they are not listening! A pet would be PERFECT for this, because even though they might not understand, you can get anything out to them. Therefore, you will be able to get your feelings out when you're mad (in order to cheer you up), because you'd have a pet to talk to.

Isabelle said...

Having a pet is very beneficial to a child in my opinion. This is because it actually teaches the child responsibility. For example after I got my horse I became much more responsible. My horse has to be exercised and groomed everyday and even though that is just a fraction of the responsibilities I will have when I am older it is still a step. When kids have responsibilities when they are young they are more likely to succeed further in life. Therefore having a pet is very beneficial to a child.

Isabelle said...

@Logan s. i agree with your statements about pets giving us responsibilities. If a child practices taking care of a pet eventually they could be responsible enough to take care of themselves. Which just goes to show having pet is very beneficial

Anonymous said...

I think that having a pet is not a bad thing at all, in fact I think it is better for a kid because in this article it states that pets can also be a releiver of stress. I know kids get easily stressed for having to much homework, sports, and other activities and not enough time for all of it. This reason is why I think a pet could be beneficial to a kid.

Imagine11 said...

I believe that owning and caring for a pet can actually be very beneficial for a child because it can help the child to learn. The article states that, "“The belief is that maybe animal-owning children are a little bit more aware unconsciously, have learned nonverbal communication,” Dr. Beck said." The article also states that, “There is some evidence, but it’s largely anecdotal, that bringing a dog into these households has a dramatic effect on the behavior of these kids,” Dr. Serpell said." Therefore, Since owning a pet can help a child to learn different skills, there might actually be merit towards letting a child take care of a pet after all.

Imagine11 said...

@blah blah blah
I agree with your opinion because you also said that having a pet could be beneficial towards a child. You said that, "For example, the article explains that a common belief is that having a pet promotes effective body language." You also said that, "Also, it states that pets can also be a reliever of stress." Therefore, since i also touched upon these statements in my comment on how owning a pet could be beneficial, I also agree with your comment on the topic.

Anonymous said...

@ Kotonashi, I agree with you.
Having a dog will get kids who are lazy off the couch and outside. The kids will get exercise out of walking and playing with a dog. Walking and playing with the dog will get those lazy kids to be able to have fresh air which is good. Especially because so many kids are obese, having a dog and getting exercise is a good thing.

Kibble said...

I think that having a pet in your family (being a child and not) is completely beneficial. After all the article did say that having a pet helps children with emotional, and social issues, and can also keep them healthy. By walking a dog the child will become not as or not obease at all, which can obviously help the obease issue in children these days. Also children can learn non-verbal communication skills with our knowing. Although these skills seem a little bit lees of importance, later on in life these skills can become extremely helpful in certian situations. Also I have met people that have never had a pet before, and they are a little... off, so when they get near an animal they don't really know what to do. These reasons leave me to believe that haveing a pet as a child is completely beneficial to social, emotional, and physical skills.

Kibble said...

@ Muffin Man 101,
You said that having a pet is a lot of work. By having a lot of work to deal with, will result in some long term outcomes eventually such as time management, and learning priorities. Do you have other ideas of what they might be. Although a pet might be alot of work, it would be worth it because then a child in their future could apply the skills they had recieved from doing all of the responsible actions that are needed to properly care for an animal.

Devon S. said...

I think that pets are a good thing for kids to have because I think that it will have a positive impact on child obesity and does make kids less stressed. I also think that having a pet makes kids more social and not afraid of animals. For example, I have a baby sister, who is 1, has grown up around 2 dogs so she isn't afraid of them at all, but when her cousin came to visit, he had never been around dogs and was terrified of them! Also, I think dogs help kids to relax and be more social because by the end of the week that he was visiting, he warmed up to the dogs and only talked a lot around them! This shows that dogs and other pets help children as they grow up.

Devon S. said...

Kibbles, I agree with you because I have also met people who haven't been around pets either and they will act really strange too! For example, when I was in second grade I had a pet hamster and a friend who grew up without pets, so when I asked her to hold him, she actually hid behind my mom! Even now to this day she won't go near any animals like my cat or bird! This shows that people who grow up without animals may be scared of them which sometimes makes them act strange because they are trying to avoid animals instead of playing with them.

Anonymous said...

I think that children should have pets such as dogs or cats because they have many benefits. In this article it proves that pets are a good influence on kids they teach responsibility, make them feel less lonely and give them a healthy escape from family issues and dispute through parents. For these reasons I believe that children should have pets especially if they're lonely and have no brothers and sisters this will give them an opportunity to play with someone.

CandyS. said...

I feel that having a pet is beneficial because it will teach kids life lessons. Taking care of a pet is hard work. You have to feed the pet, walk the pet, or give it some form of exercise and devote some hours of the week to it. Doing these tasks can help people with taking responsibility for their actions, or using their time wisely. For example, @ZAMZAM said that even though she has a really busy schedule, taking care of her dog has helped her manage her time better and overall made her more responsible. All in all, having a pet is rewarding because it teaches kids life lessons such as how to manage time wisely and how to become responsible.

CandyS. said...

I feel that the possession of pets will have a positive impact on those who suffer from childhood obesity. Dog walking can be a very strenuous activity that will help kids lose weight. Rebecca Johnson, director of the Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction at the University of Missouri says,“This is a highly motivating physical activity, when children walk with a dog.” She feels that not only is walking a dog motivational, but it is a good source for physical activity as well. Therefore, dog walking is beneficial because it can aid in decreasing childhood obesity.

Grace S. said...

I think that owning pets in a household is a good idea and will help decrease child obesity. Although it does require some bit of responsibility, kids will become more active because they will have to walk their dog. Just the simple task of doing this for about 10 minutes a day will still give them some exercise. Therefore, children owning pets definitely has a positive impact.

Grace S. said...

@Anonymous
I agree with you because you had some good reasons on why owning pets is a great idea. You said that pets are a good influence on kids, they teach responsibility, make them feel less lonely and give them a healthy escape from family issues. Not only will they help with all of those things, but they will help kids in getting more fit and active in their lives

whencupcakesattack said...

I think that children getting pets is actually very beneficial to the child. It is a known fact that if you are dealing great stress and you pet an animal such as a hamster, rabbit, or cat, it will relieve your stress and actually slow your heartbeat down from anxiety. This can help many kids because if they are having to prepare for a test or presentation and can't deal the stress, they can relieve it by petting the animal. This is why I think it is beneficial for a child to have a pet (and not just use it to "learn responsibility")

whencupcakesattack said...

@Grace S.
I agree with you. Walking a dog daily will not only keep your animal in shape, but also it will help keep yourself in shape. It will help kids learn that exercise is very important for not only your pet, but also for yourself. I think it was a good idea to bring up on how owning a pet can really cut down on child obesity.

Anonymous said...

@ Grace S

I agree with you because on your comment you said you think having pets is a gold things because it decreases obesity. This is very true, children with pets like dogs will run around and play with them outside compared to other kids with no pets who might jus sit inside eating junk food and playing video games. This is yet another way pets are beneficial to children and this is why I agree with Grace S' comment.

Hayley M said...

I think it is a great oppurtunity to have a pet because it would help childhood obesity and give a companion. Walking and playing with a dog could give you a lot of exercise, helping you lose weight. This would help childhood obesity lower. Also, having a pet would allow you to have a friend. I always tell my dog everything that happens to me because I feel like he is my friend, not my pet.

Hayley M said...

@EvanF, I agree with you. Having better body language skills would benefit everyone and having a pet could help. Also, it would allow kids to get up and be active by doing something fun.

Avacado said...

I think that this article shows that people with pets have better skills and traits than those without pets.
I have a dog that I got a year ago, and since I got her I think that I have somewhat changed as a person. I feel that she has made be more caring towards animals, and can relate to those with dogs and understand them more. In addition, I think that dogs and other pets are stress releivers, and can help anyone, especially the old and/or sick. Therefore, I think that having a pet gives you better people skills and good traits.

Avacado said...

@ Ali M,
I agree with you that dogs can change you as a person, and can make you less fearful of animals. I think that dogs are great to have around, especially as stress releivers and a good pal. I recently got a dog, and before that, I used to be cautious and sometimes worried around larger dogs, but ever since I got my dog and met other people with dogs I have a better understanding of them, and go up to all dogs without fear. Therefore, I think that dogs are great to have around and help you both physically and mentally.

No. said...

I think having a pet can benefit a child because it can teach them how to be responsible. Such as, when said cat or dog needs to got the bathroom the child will take it outside to go. this can also teach priority.