Keeping PETS at home*
Companionship of animals is an important dimension to our life. Since early civilization human beings have been living with animals such as cows, buffaloes, goats, sheep, horses, camels, dogs and cats as per their culture and traditions as well as per need. Even now, it is a common sight in rural areas to see these domestic animals living in the premises or in the houses. As a stressful work environment and nuclear families are on the rise in cities, it is causing increasing loneliness among people especially among those who do not have much social life and activities and hobbies. In such a scenario, a pet brings a deep sense of peace and contentment in the family. They give unconditional love. Some researchers have found that people with pets have lower heart rate and blood pressure and are less likely to experience depression.
Role of play in child development
- It has been found that children who live in houses in which a pet is considered a member of the family are more empathetic than children in homes without pets.
- It has been found that individuals who have low self-esteem focus on themselves. They always talk about their problems and failures. Keeping an animal as a pet helps them focus on other aspects like its eating, sleeping, and other habits. This helps them deviate from self-pity.
- Taking care of animals inculcates nurturing skills.
- The movement, voice, expressions and playfulness of the pet becomes quite entertaining. In situations that are depressing, the presence of animal helps to brighten the atmosphere, increases amusement, laughter and plays as a mental stimulator.
- A number of studies have shown that there is direct correlation between touch and health. The touch of a dog or a cat gives rise to a positive feeling.
- When children handle pets, they become mature caretakers. Kids learn to deal with medical issues and illnesses when they are exposed to routine veterinarian check-ups and treatment for various illnesses.
- Pets that are cared by children and fed by them can bring discipline in them. It also replaces over indulgence in television, viewing video, mobiles and computers to some extent.
- It has been found that pets that are taken good care of and are in happier families are happier than the families where there are quarrels.
A WORD OF CAUTION; before keeping a pet, ensure that no member of the family is allergic to the pet. Care should be taken that health checkup of pets is done and they are immunized to prevent spread of diseases. Ensure that pet is given bath at regular intervals (as per requirement/ needs of the animal) and proper hygiene is maintained. Time schedule of children for playing with pets should also be maintained to avoid irritating the animal as they also need their own time and space. Care should be taken that one should not play with the emotions of pets as they are not toys. (While planning to keep birds it should be checked which of the birds are allowed to keep at home in that country /state)
AQUARIUM:
Nowadays keeping an aquarium of colorful fish at homes and work places is becoming a common hobby among urban population. Fish swimming in aquarium gives a feeling of liveliness and positive feeling.
Parts of the aquarium are:- Aquarium (bowl or rectangular, square, cylindrical) according to the space available.
- Base
- Air pump
- Filter
- Gravel
- Colored gravel
- Heater (as per requirement)
- Seashell, rocks, stones
- Plants (Artificial or real)
- Fish (breed and number according to the size of the aquarium and likeness)
- Fish food (may be given on regularly or weekly basis as per the type of food availability of time )
- Medicines
- Regular cleaning of the aquarium is carried out. Water is changed at regular intervals and medicines are also put in water (as per the instructions).
- Food is given regularly at fixed time.
- Pumps and filters are working properly.
- When going out for few days, ensure that some food supply is there in the aquarium.
VALUE:
- Children learn about various aspects like behavior, eating pattern of fish, as well as about various other things used in the aquarium like types of stones and aquatic plants.
- If given responsibility, children learn maintenance and keeping of pets and punctuality for timings.
Note: Before planning to keep any pet, it is important to make clear the responsibilities to be shared by each member of the family. It has been observed that initially families keep the pet just because it is in fashion or due to demand of children but later on whole burden comes on one person.
* Nirmal Tikku, Ex Deputy Director, NIPCCD , New Delhi, INDIA----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------