Kids and Pets
KIDS AND PETS: Would you be completely crazy to get your kids a pet? Or are there real advantages to the child-pet relationship? And honestly - whose pet (and whose responsibility?!) will it turn out to be? The truth is that pets have a great deal to offer children, from companionship and security to life lessons in responsibility, empathy, and even loss. But if you're thinking of taking the plunge, or if you have a pet already, it's important to know how to choose the right one, and how to bring your kids successfully into the mix. Hear the answers from a veterinarian and a family counselor, and meet a roomful of pets, parents and kids who have learned how to make it work!
Guests:
Cyndi Brown, DVM - Associate Veterinarian, Department of Avian & Exotic Pets, Medicine & Surgery at The Animal Medical Center, New York City
Deborah Antinori, MA, LPC - Director of Therapy at The Davison County Center, Basking Ridge, NY; Licensed Professional Counselor; Author, Audio Book, Journey Through Pet Loss
Shawn Swett - Mother of Four Children
Stephen, William, Ben, and Avery Swett - Shawn's children
Tips:
Great Interactive Pets for Kids Under 5
- Chinchillas
- Gerbils
- Rats
- Small Birds (Budgies)
- Fish
- Hamsters
For Observation Only:
No Interaction Should Be Allowed with Children Under Age 5
- Baby chicks and ducklings
- Amphibians (frogs, toads, newts, salamanders)
- Reptiles (lizards, snakes, turtles)
Bad Pets for Children Under 5:
- Never get Iguanas!
