You probably know somebody in this sort of situation — the kids begged for a pet, promised to take care of the pet, but it is the parents who end up doing most of the caretaking? If this describes you, you’re not alone!
Regardless of what age your kids are, there are ways to get them involved (and keep them involved) in the care of the family pets. Assigning tasks that are age-appropriate will help everyone stay involved.
Toddlers won’t be TOO much help — you can’t really leave a toddler to feed the cat or walk the dog. That doesn’t mean your toddler can’t be around while you feed the cat or join you on a walk! And you can have your toddler offer treats for good behavior — place a treat on your child’s palm and the dog will take it. On the palm keeps fingers out of the way of sharp teeth!
Children between five and ten can start to take on chores without too much parental help. However, you may need to remind your helper that it’s time to feed the pets or change the water. Use your judgment — your five year old may be able to feed a smaller dog or cat without too many problems, but might be knocked off balance by a hungry, eager large dog. And children under ten will usually need parental supervision on walks — again, a large dog may be too much for a smaller child to handle alone.
As your child heads into their pre-teen and teen years, they can take more responsibility for pet care. Feeding, watering, grooming and even training are not out of the realm of possibility! Your teen can take your pet to an obedience course — this is not only good for your dog’s behavior but a great chance for your child and your pet to bond.
It’s a good idea to have the whole family take turns preparing meals for your pets — for dogs especially, this teaches them to see the whole family as food providers (and thus, higher in the family pack), not just one person.