For us animal lovers, pets always feel like an extension of our families. They bring so many fun memories to the table like family walks with the dogs or the first time your family met your baby kitten… but what does this do for development?
In the research article, Children’s and Adolescents’ Pet Attachment, Empathy, and Compassionate Responding to Self and Others, it examines various aspects pets contribute to child development. The main findings of this article discovers that pets allow children to develop mindful thinking strategies along with compassion towards others. The article also finds that the compassion and empathy child already possess impacts their attachment with their pet.
To read more about this study, click here!
Mikayla Clemens
Research Assistant, UConn KIDS