At one time or another during childhood, children have wanted a pet, whether it was a puppy, a rabbit, a lizard, etc. After numerous attempts to beg and pester parents to allow child to get this “pet,” some give in. However, these situations could end one of two ways. One is that the child actually learns to love and care for the pet and the other is that the child completely forgets about the pet and the parents end up caring for it or abandoning it. So the real question to consider is: should young children be allowed to have pets? Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, pets are an important part of a child's life. Through the experience of caring for a pet, a child can learn to be patient, caring, and kind; These are important characteristics for every child to learn. However, these life learning experiences can only be achieved if the pet is cared for properly and is not neglected by the child. The type of pet to bring into the home depends on the age of the child. Aggressive animals and reptiles are not suitable for younger children, however, regardless of their age, children should always be supervised along with their pets and taught how to properly care for their pets. Allowing a child to care for a pet offers several benefits. pet. Children raised with pets are more likely to be more confident, responsible, respectful and caring. Additionally, children can confide in their pets and learn valuable life lessons such as the importance of the lives of others, how to deal with the loss of a loved one, loyalty and affection. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay So why are some people against letting children take care of pets? Well, it's difficult to convince a child to take care of his pet. Additionally, some children may abuse and torture animals without their parents knowing. Some children may use their pets to release negative emotions. In these cases it is better to help the child channel negative emotions in another way and constantly monitor his activities with the animal. I believe children should definitely have pets, there are many valuable lessons that cannot be experienced in any other situation. However, precautions need to be taken into consideration and parents should understand that they need to take care of the pet so that their children know how to love and care for pets properly. Works Cited American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. (2015). Children and pets. Retrieved from https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Pets-And-Children-075.aspxDaly, B., Morton, L.L., and Lee, A.H. (2010). A longitudinal study of the effects of pet ownership on depression and loneliness in older Australians: the moderating role of social support. Anthrozoös, 23(2), 153-165.Friedmann, E., & Son, H. (2009). The human-animal bond: How humans benefit. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 39(2), 293-326. Headey, B. and Grabka,, 26(3), 249-264.