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Congratulations! You’ve decided to grow your family and welcome a pet into the fold. Before you head over to the pet store (or, better yet, adoption center), there are a ton of things to consider. And the most important thing to determine is what type of animal you’ll be getting. If there are children involved, that means figuring out the best pets for kids, because it isn’t always as copasetic as TV makes it out to be.
While there’s no guarantee that a certain type of animal is the perfect fit for your child, it’s important to consider the personality traits of your kid first. Are they active, homebodies, intelligent, quiet, or playful children? By matching the character of your child to similar traits of the type of animal you’ll be getting, the two should get along quite nicely.
“To really create the human-animal bond, [the fulfillment] has to be mutual,” veterinarian Dr. Liz Bales says tells Woman’s Day. “They will best fulfill your needs when you fulfill their needs, then the magic happens with a lifelong bond.”
But that’s not the only thing you need to consider as a parent. Each type of animal has a different cost and commitment, and it’s important to understand the needs and life expectancy of your new pet. Once you’ve chosen the best pet for your kid, it will be one of the most fulfilling and valuable life lessons they will ever have. They’ll learn responsibility, patience, care, and most importantly, love.
