Pets and children
The Benefits Of Pet Ownership In Childhood Development

Have you ever seen the way a child's face lights up when greeted by the wagging tail from a family dog or a cat's gentle purr? The bond between children and their pets is something extraordinary. Beyond unconditional love and companionship, studies show that pet ownership can have a significant positive influence on child development.
From building confidence and empathy to reducing stress and encouraging physical activity, pets teach important life lessons and cultivate essential skills. This comprehensive guide explores the many benefits of pet ownership and how it contributes to well-rounded human development right from early childhood.
This guide has been divided into four main chapters, addressing different aspects of pet ownership and what it means for kids' development. It also highlights useful tips for parents and kids to interact with pets and get the best out of human-animal relationships. So, let's get started!
This chapter explores the appeal of pets in modern societies, providing statistics on pet ownership in US homes. It also looks into the different reasons people choose to have pets and digs into the long history of people keeping pets.
You'll learn about the most common pets people have, from dogs and cats to fish and birds, and better understand the care and responsibility needed to ensure that pets are happy and healthy.
Pets have played a central role in comforting Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic"
Steve King
President and CEO of APPA
From companionship to fulfilling a family's desire, the reasons people welcome a pet into their lives are many. This section will explore why the popularity of pet ownership has been steadily increasing, the motivations behind this phenomenon, and its fascinating history.
60%
allowed their pet to sleep in bed with them
54%
buy gifts for their furry (or feathered) friends during the holiday season
In terms of why these generous pet owners got their pets in the first place, many actually did so (36%) because their partner or other family members wanted one. Parents of children under 18 are even more likely (47%) to say this is why they got a pet. The benefits a pet can bring a family is a strong driving force. Reasons included:
36%
because their partner or other family members wanted one
52%
of pet owners say they got a pet to keep them company
49%
decided to get a pet because they thought they could provide a nice home
40%
got a pet in the hope of improving their own mental health
Pets have been companions to humans for thousands of years, fulfilling various roles in households and communities. Over time, the variety of animals kept as pets has expanded, reflecting changes in society, lifestyles, and preferences.
However, some animals have remained particularly popular choices. Here are the most common types of pets owned by people, according to the American Pet Products Association (APPA):
Dogs are the most commonly owned pet in the US, with an estimated 65.1 million households owning a dog according to a 2023-2024 survey. Often referred to as "man's best friend", dogs are renowned for their loyalty, companionship, and versatility.
They come in a vast range of breeds, each with its unique traits, making them suitable for various lifestyles and preferences.
Dogs are highly social animals that can integrate well into human families. They require regular exercise, mental stimulation, and social interaction. Different breeds have distinct care needs, temperaments, and energy levels.
Cats are also really popular, with about 46.5 million households owning at least one cat according to a 2023-2024 survey. They are cherished for their independent nature and ease of care, making them ideal pets for individuals with busy lifestyles.
They are known for their agility, playful behavior, and affectionate yet self-reliant temperament. Cats typically require less space and can thrive in indoor environments. They are natural hunters and can provide pest control.
Fish are the third most popular pet in the U.S., with around 11.1 million households having an aquarium. Freshwater fish are more common than saltwater species, largely due to the ease of maintaining freshwater aquariums.
Fish are a popular choice for those who appreciate the serene beauty of aquatic life and are looking for a relatively low-maintenance pet. They come in countless species, offering a vast array of colors, sizes, and habitat needs.
Keeping fish can be a calming hobby, with the maintenance of the aquarium offering a sense of tranquility and satisfaction. Fish require specific water conditions to thrive, including temperature, pH levels, and cleanliness.
Approximately 6.1 million households in the US own a bird. Birds are appreciated for their intelligence, social nature, and the beauty they bring into a home. They also add vibrancy and music to households with their colorful plumage and melodious songs. Popular bird pets include parrots, canaries, and finches.
They are intelligent and can form strong bonds with their owners. Many birds also have the capacity for speech or mimicry, adding a unique interactive element. Birds typically require mental stimulation, social interaction, and space to fly within their cages or aviaries.
This category includes rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and ferrets, which are often favored for their size and the lower level of care they require compared to larger pets.
Around 6.7 million US households own small mammals. They can be playful and affectionate, making them suitable companions. They require less space and are often suitable for various living situations, including apartments.
Care needs vary widely among different types of small mammals, with some needing more social interaction and space to roam.
All in all, each type of pet offers its own unique set of benefits and challenges. The best choice depends on a person's lifestyle, preferences, and ability to meet the needs of the pet they choose to bring into their home.
Having pets around the home helps kids in lots of ways. Pets teach kids about making friends, caring for others, and even feeling better emotionally. Pets can also make kids better able to engage in conversations, make new friends, and give them a big confidence boost.
Pets are like personal cheerleaders, making kids feel loved and important, which is awesome for their mood. Also, running around and playing with pets is a fun way to keep kids fit and healthy.
And let’s not forget, that taking care of a pet teaches kids to be responsible; feeding, walking, and cleaning up after a pet shows them how to stick to tasks. Essentially, this chapter is all about how pets help kids grow up happier, healthier, and smarter.
Having a furry family member offers unique opportunities for children to develop strong social skills. Here's how pets help kids flourish:
This can be beneficial while learning too. Mary Renck Jalongo, PhD, education professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and author of 'The World Of Children And Their Companion Animal' spoke about a study during which children were asked to read in front of a peer, an adult, and a dog while researchers monitored their stress levels. The audience they were most relaxed around was the dogs.
Kids often see their pets as friends, confiding in them and relying on them for comfort. Dogs are particularly good at this, says Dr. Ann Berger, a physician and researcher at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
“The foundations of mindfulness include attention, intention, compassion, and awareness,” Berger says. “All of those things are things that animals bring to the table. People kind of have to learn it. Animals do this innately.” Their attention is focused on who they’re with most of the time.
Their unconditional love can do more than keep a child company; interacting with animals has been shown to decrease levels of cortisol (a stress-related hormone), increase the release of dopamine and oxytocin, which are anti-stress or feel-good hormones, and lower blood pressure.
The 'social' support given by pets has some advantages compared to the social support given by humans. Pets can make people feel unconditionally accepted, whereas fellow humans will judge and may criticize"
Nienke Endenburg and Ben Baarda
The Waltham Book of Human-Animal Interaction
Caring for a furry family member is a valuable way for children to learn about responsibility. With age-appropriate tasks, kids develop a greater sense of discipline and maturity.
Gail F. Melson, PhD, professor emeritus of developmental studies at Purdue University, in Indiana, and the author of 'Why The Wild Things Are: Animals In The Lives Of Children' said: “nurturing isn't a quality that suddenly appears in adulthood when we need it… People need a way to practice being caregivers when they're young."
And pets offer just that opportunity. She researched how much time kids over three spent actively caring for their pets versus caring for or even playing with younger siblings. She found that within a 24-hour period:
Nurturing isn't a quality that suddenly appears in adulthood when we need it… People need a way to practice being caregivers when they're young"
Gail F. Melson, PhD
Professor emeritus of developmental studies
Pet ownership encourages a healthier lifestyle for both children and families. They can contribute significantly to physical activity and overall health outcomes.
According to a study by Dennis Ownby , MD, a pediatrician and head of the allergy and immunology department of the Medical College of Georgia, having multiple pets decreases a child's risk of developing certain allergies.
He tracked 474 babies from birth to about age 7, discovering that children who were exposed to two or more dogs or cats as babies were less than half as likely to develop common allergies as kids who had no pets in the home. Kids with pets had fewer positive skin tests to both:
Having multiple pets decreases a child's risk of developing certain allergies.
According to a study by Dennis Ownby, M.D.
Playtime with pets is fun, builds strong connections, and assists children's development. But like humans, pets have feelings and sometimes need their space. Learning how to play responsibly and recognize signs of stress or discomfort helps both kids and cuddly companions have the best experience together.
Just like people, animals show clues about how they're feeling. Pet owners need to look out for these signs to ensure your pet is comfortable and happy:
Pets can be sensitive. They can easily become anxious or frustrated by things going on around them, or by the way people interact with them, especially if it’s a new or unknown experience. As a pet owner, you’re responsible for creating safe, comfortable environments for them.
Throughout this guide, we have mainly focused on adding a pet to a home with children. But it often happens the other way around, a new baby arrives after a pet.
From your pet’s perspective, this will be a huge change and potential disruption. It’s one of the biggest changes that could happen to them – think about the new sounds and smells, the arrival of new furniture and objects, and the changes to your routine.
It can cause stress, but once again, understanding your pet and knowing what’s normal or isn’t will help ease any transition, whether it’s during playtime or another family event.
Other tips for parents wanting to encourage responsible play are:
Chapter Three explores the unique bond between pets and neurodiverse children, highlighting how animals provide essential support and companionship.
Covering conditions like autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and more, it discusses the specific benefits pets offer, such as reducing stress, improving social skills, and teaching responsibility.
This chapter also identifies the best pet types for each condition, explaining how their presence can positively impact a child's emotional and social development.
The National Institutes of Health, part of the U.S. The Department of Health and Human Services, has partnered with the Mars Corporation’s WALTHAM Center for Pet Nutrition for some years now. They fund research studies and large-scale surveys to answer questions such as, who benefits from an animal? And which type of pet brings health benefits?
As part of this, they have been studying animal interactions with autistic kids and kids who have ADHD and other conditions. The findings, reported in the research article The Power of Pets and discussed below, are interesting.
“We’re trying to tap into the subjective quality of the relationship with the animal—that part of the bond that people feel with animals—and how that translates into some of the health benefits,” explains Dr. James Griffin, a child development expert at NIH.
Animals can become a way of building a bridge for those social interactions"
Dr. James Griffin
Child development expert at NIH
One study found that autistic children were calmer while playing with guinea pigs in the classroom, compared to playing with a toy. After spending 10 minutes in a supervised group play session, the anxiety levels of the autistic children dropped.
The research also revealed the children had better social interactions and were more engaged with their peers. They were more likely to engage in behaviors such as introducing themselves, asking for information, or responding to questions.
A study, published in the Journal of Pediatric Nursing, surveyed parents of autistic children about the children’s interactions with dogs. They found:
94%
of families that owned a dog said their child bonded strongly with the pet
7 in 10
parents (in families without dogs) said their child enjoyed interacting with dogs
Some organizations train dogs specifically to be pets or assistance animals for autistic people, such as Dogs for Autism, Autism Dogs and Support Dogs.
These dogs offer benefits beyond the typical facets of pet ownership, helping autistic people access locations that may be challenging, such as airports and shops. They can also be trained to use a range of techniques to help calm a child, such as:
NIH has also reported on studies about how animals may help children with ADHD – in particular, how dogs can help them focus their attention. When researchers enrolled two groups of children diagnosed with ADHD into 12-week group therapy sessions, the first group read to a therapy dog once a week for 30 minutes. The second group read to puppets that looked like dogs.
Children who spent time reading to the real dogs had fewer behavioral problems during therapy, and they demonstrated better social skills – such as sharing more, cooperating, and volunteering.
A pet can also create structure and encourage regular habits, something which symptoms of ADHD may make tricky. Animals need consistency in terms of when they are fed, when they are exercised, and when they go to bed. Getting kids involved in this routine can help them thrive.
Beyond autism and ADHD, pets also offer tons of benefits for children with other neurodiverse conditions.
Certain animals are known for their calming effects, and ability to provide consistent companionship and support in managing sensory challenges. By examining the unique bond between neurodiverse kids and their pets, this section reveals how certain animals can significantly improve their emotional and social development.
Every child is unique. Different pets can help in different ways. A gentle cat, playful dog, or even calming fish can be a great fit depending on the child's needs.
Scientists are still studying the connection between neurodiverse kids and pets. There's a lot to discover about how animals can bring out the best in everyone!
Dr. Layla Esposito, who oversees NIH’s Human-Animal Interaction Research Program explains “there’s not one answer about how a pet can help somebody with a specific condition.” It depends on what you (and your family) are looking to gain from having a pet, as well as what type of home you can offer an animal.
Is your goal to increase physical activity? Then you might benefit from owning a dog. You have to walk a dog several times a day and you’re going to increase physical activity. If your goal is reducing stress, sometimes watching fish swim can result in a feeling of calmness. So there’s no one type that fits all."
Dr. Layla Esposito
NIH’s Human-Animal Interaction Research Program
Welcoming a pet is a big decision. It brings joy and helps kids learn, but it's important to find the right fit for your family. The following are some tips to ensure your new animal companion has everything they need to thrive.
Different types of animals have different requirements for food, exercise, grooming, and space. Understanding these needs is important to providing appropriate care for your pet. These are the different categories.
The dietary needs of animals vary greatly. Some animals, like cats, are obligate carnivores and require a diet primarily consisting of meat. They require certain nutrients that can only be obtained from animal-based proteins, such as taurine, arachidonic acid, vitamin A, and vitamin B12.
Others, like rabbits, are herbivores and need a diet rich in hay and vegetables. It's essential to provide your pet with a balanced diet that meets their specific nutritional requirements.
Animals need regular exercise to stay healthy and happy. The amount of exercise required varies depending on the species.
Dogs, for example, are known for their high energy levels and need daily walks or runs. On the other hand, while cats may enjoy lounging, they require at least three five-minute intense play sessions each day, using activities like chasing toys, climbing cat trees, and interactive play with toys to ensure they get enough exercise.
Grooming is an important aspect of animal care. Regular brushing helps remove dirt, loose hair, and parasites from the fur, keeping your pet clean and healthy. It also promotes good circulation and can help prevent skin problems.
Animals need adequate space to move around and express their natural behaviors. The size of the enclosure or living area should be appropriate for the animal's size and activity level.
Providing your pet with sufficient space helps prevent boredom and allows them to engage in essential activities.
In general, you can expect the following specific needs depending on the kind of pet you’re interested in:
It’s likely you’ll have a favorite in mind, but you have to think about whether you’re the right owner for that animal. Can you meet its needs and offer it the right type of home and lifestyle? When thinking about getting a pet, start by asking yourself:
Examine your daily routine. Can you consistently dedicate time to pet care, including walking, playing, training, and providing attention?
Families are often busy, so think about how a pet would fit into your lifestyle, including whether you’d want to take the pet out with you where possible or if you’d be planning to leave them at home.
Dogs can be left at home for short periods but often enjoy a lot of attention, whereas a rabbit would be happy in the company of another of its kind.
You also have to think about the initial time investment in terms of familiarizing them with their new surroundings and any training you’ll need to do.
One of the biggest challenges pet owners talk about is the need to train pets or deal with any behavioral issues, identified by 45% of pet owners according to YouGov.
Owning a pet can be costly, so it's important to evaluate if your budget can comfortably accommodate these expenses.
Consider the financial responsibilities associated with pet ownership. Consider expenses like food, vet visits, grooming, pet supplies, and potential emergencies.
You may also want to get pet insurance to cover emergencies and accidents and you can certainly consider all of the necessary pet supplies in your usual family budget.
Take the average annual expenses for dogs and cats, for example, as seen in the table below.
Your living situation must be suitable for the pet you wish to bring into your home. Pets need adequate space to move around, play, rest, and engage in their natural behaviors.
You might be surprised about how much stuff an animal needs. With children, you’ll likely already have a lot of toys and other extras. Similarly, it’s important to think about how different pets would fit in.
Do you have room for a fish tank the size you’d need? Do you have an area where a cat can retreat to as their own? A lot of animals need their own space to hide in – while it doesn’t have to be huge, it’s something to consider.
What’s more, you may need to be careful with where the pets who roam have access to or put in the time to train them. For example, some pet owners may choose to give their dog free rein downstairs, but not let them upstairs.
Source: National Pet Owners Survey by the American Pet Products Association (APPA) via Insurance Information Institute
Even once you’ve narrowed down an animal, there are different breeds to consider. Not every animal will behave the same or have similar needs. Take The American Kennel Club’s 2021 most popular dog breeds.
Poodles are likely to need far more grooming than some of the others, and while a Dachshund might take up less space in your home, you shouldn’t assume it needs less exercise simply because it’s smaller. You'll need to research the breeds to decide what will fit into your family lifestyle best.
If having a pet isn't the right fit for your family at this time, don't fret! There are plenty of ways to still enjoy the benefits of furry companionship. Here are a few ideas:
Spend time with your friends and family who have pets and enjoy the company of their furry friends. This is a great way to interact with pets without the commitment of having your own pet.
Visit zoos and petting farms that prioritize the well-being of their animals. This can be a fun and educational experience for both you and your family. You can observe different animals up close and learn more about their habitats and behaviors.
Take a walk in the park or go on a hike in the woods to observe animals in their natural habitats. This is a great way to appreciate the beauty and diversity of the animal kingdom. Just be sure to maintain a safe distance from wildlife and follow all safety guidelines.
These are just a few ideas for enjoying the company of animals without having a pet of your own. With a little creativity, you can find ways to incorporate animals into your life in a way that works for you and your family.
One of the benefits of pet ownership for childhood development is the chance it gives children to take on new responsibilities.
While kids need to have fun and bond with their pets, they should also know and be involved in taking care of them. The best way to do that is by getting them involved in the daily tasks you’re responsible for.
Depending on their age, things you could teach your kids to do include:
Most animals are fed daily. How much do you feed them? What do you feed them and why? These are all things you can explain to your child and start allowing them to take over.
You can emphasize the importance of routine for animals and encourage them to be responsible for keeping to a healthy schedule for your pet.
Some animals will need grooming regularly. Not only does it keep their coats in good condition, grooming is also a chance to give your pets a bit of a once-over health check.
Look for any changes in the condition of their coat and run your hand over their bodies. Explain to your children that you’re simply looking for any changes, for example, a lack of shine in the coat, a lump under the skin or any scratches.
It introduces the idea of looking after their health regularly without it being a worrying moment.
Dogs in particular do need daily exercise. Not only is a walk a good chance for a dog to run around, sniff new smells, and interact with other dogs, but it’s good exercise for their owners.
It’s something all the family can easily get involved in, and if pets don’t need exercise, they’ll likely still require some need of mental stimulation or attention.
A cat, for example, probably won’t go on a walk but you can make a conscious effort to engage with it daily, introducing new toys or a different game.
As a parent, you can decide when and how to get your children involved in the care of the family pets. It’s just important to encourage the behavior of responsible pet owners.
As a child matures, they can take on more of the daily jobs, boosting their sense of independence and responsibility.
After all, all of these activities lead back to the important role pet ownership plays in childhood development, animals large and small can teach, delight, and offer support while kids grow up.
There Are Benefits Of Pet Ownership For The Whole Family: Especially Now
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Selecting a pet for your family
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The Health and Mood-Boosting Benefits of Pets
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Emotional Benefits Of Pet Dogs For Kids
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Guidelines for responsible pet ownership
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75 Ways to Be a Responsible Dog Owner
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