By Fatima Malik
Pets can be an excellent addition to any family, especially since so many pets need loving homes.
But what do pets do for us?
They can provide us with love, compassion, companionship, extreme cuteness, sometimes fluffiness, entertainment (ever seen kittens trying to ‘attack’ a fly?), healthy daily interactions. Regardless of how the weather is or how bad of a day you’ve had, they’ll always be happy to see you.
What can pets teach us?
Empathy and responsibility, for starters. Kids with ADHD significantly benefit from it because they struggle with compassion and commitment. A small study found that kids with ADHD did better in therapy when a therapy dog was present. Having a pet present reduced their stress related to the session.
Pets are great for kids with ADHD. But to get pets solely for that purpose is not advised. Adopting a pet is like adopting a family member, and bringing them into the home is a big responsibility that needs to be shared by each family member.
So as a parent, it would help if you made an informed decision about getting a pet.
If you choose to get one, this is how it’ll help children with ADHD:
- Caring for a pet requires time management skills. Planning to feed them, or walk them etc.
- Walking and playing with them can be an excellent way for these kids to remove excess energy.
- Physical connection with a pet reduces anxiety. All the cuddles and the purring can really be emotionally healing.
- Caring for a pet requires empathy, a way for humans to understand the pet’s needs without being expressed in words.
- Pets make it easier to socialize since they are conversation starters and force you to go outside.
It is important to note that pets are not a ‘treatment’ for ADHD but additional support for parents while treating their child’s ADHD symptoms.
When bringing in a pet for your child, it is important to prepare them for it. Surprises are fun but not practical. If the child is not mentally prepared to care for the pet or is unaware of what is required, they may find it an imposed responsibility, one they didn’t ask for even though they wanted the pet and still want it.
It’s best to team up as a family to care for the pet. It’s not only the child’s responsibility, and neither is it solely the parent’s responsibility. It needs to be a team effort so that no one person is overwhelmed.
To learn more about how your life might change if your child is diagnosed with ADHD, here’s an article that may help.
There may be cases where some kids have severe impulse control issues or are aggressive and may harm the pet without meaning to. In these cases, it is not advised to keep a pet in the house.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that these kids can never have pets; they can definitely have pets in their lives when they are mature enough to have control over their impulses or have had the training to manage their aggression.
All in all, soft-tempered pets are recommended for children with ADHD.
If you’re not sure if having a pet would benefit your child’s ADHD treatment, please speak to a professional. We have professionals in London, Ottawa, Vaughan, North York. Call us 1-866-503-7454
