| Little kids see them everywhere... in the
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| | friends and to avoid doing things that
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| neighborhood, on play dates with friends,
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| | hurt others. Caring for a pet is the
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| in pre-school, and in mall pet shops.
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| | perfect opportunity for toddlers to learn
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| Puppies, kittens, guinea pigs, hamsters,
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| | kindness and tolerance.
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| fish, birds, rabbits, gerbils - there's
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| | - Pets are a lot of fun! Toddlers are
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| an unlimited supply of animal companions
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| | endlessly fascinated watching hamsters
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| for children and adults alike.
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| | run on their wheel, the crazy antics of
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| Eventually your toddler is going to utter
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| | ferrets, the playfulness of puppies and
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| those dreaded words, "Daddy, can I have
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| | kittens, the graceful movements of
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| ..." Then you'll have a difficult
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| | goldfish, and the chattering of birds.
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| decision to make: is your child ready to
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| | Having a pet is not only great fun, but
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| have a pet?
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| | pets also provide valuable knowledge
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| Child development experts have long
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| | about the way real-life animals function
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| believed that children should have
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| | in the world. With puppies, they find
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| exposure to household pet companions.
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| | the only unconditional source of love in
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| Having a pet has many advantages:
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| | their lives.
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| - Pets teach children about the existence
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| | If you think your toddler is ready to
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| of other living creatures first-hand
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| | care for a pet, first consider what kind
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| rather than on television.
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| | of pet is appropriate for your child's
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| - Pets help children understand nature's
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| | age, degree of understanding how to care
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| ways and the authentic natural world
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| | for the pet, and the child's
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| rather than animated cartoons where all
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| | comprehension that these are living
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| the animals, predators and prey, get
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| | creatures that need daily care. For
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| along famously. Nice, but it teaches a
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| | example, it would not be appropriate for
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| false perception of the ways of the
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| | a toddler to care for a large hookbill
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| animal kingdom. Perhaps your toddler is
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| | parrot such as a Macaw or African Grey.
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| not ready to watch the National
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| | These talkative birds live a human
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| Geographic channel where predators
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| | lifespan, require special care, and have
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| mercilessly run down their prey and eat
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| | unpredictable natures; they can snap off
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| them alive. But the misconceptions of
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| | a curious child's finger in seconds!
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| movies such as "The Lion King" don't
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| | These birds are pets for adults, not
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| prepare your child for the real cycle of
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| | children. If you feel your child is
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| life.
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| | ready for a puppy, remember that the
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| - Owning and caring for a pet teaches
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| | puppy will grow into a full-sized dog.
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| your child responsibility and
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| | Dogs known for aggressive temperaments
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| accountability. Fish die when they
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| | such as American Pit Bull Terriers,
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| aren't fed. Hamsters squeal in pain if
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| | Rotweilers, Chows, and Akitas aren't good
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| they're squeezed. Puppies have
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| | choices for a toddler. Good-natured dogs
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| housebreaking accidents that need to be
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| | like Labradors, Golden Retrievers,
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| cleaned up. Animals aren't like stuffed
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| | Dachshunds, Poodles, and spaniels are a
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| Teddy bears; they need food, water,
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| | much better choice.
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| veterinary care, and a clean environment.
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| | Not ready for puppies and kittens? Fish,
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| - Pets die. Children often have their
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| | guinea pigs and hamsters make outstanding
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| first brush with death and grief when a
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| | first pets. Children learn to feed them,
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| beloved pet dies or must be euthanized.
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| | clean their environments, interact with
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| Understanding a pet's death is a dress
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| | them carefully and gently, and they
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| rehearsal for the death of Grandmother or
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| | provide hours of fun. Parakeets are also
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| Uncle Bob. Coping with death is an
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| | good choices; their bright colors and
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| important part of a child's
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| | cheerful chattering are interesting and
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| socialization.
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| | entertaining for a small child.
|
| - Having a pet teaches toddlers the
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| | Pets can enrich your child's life and
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| essential skill of empathy with other
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| | teach many valuable lessons. If you
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| people and with animals. At this age,
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| | believe your child is ready for a pet,
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| children should be developing a sense of
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| | choose carefully and teach your child how
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| compassion and emotional intimacy with
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| | to care for another living creature.
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| others. This is how they learn to make
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| | Pets are wonderful teachers!
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