Having a Dog Helps a Child Develop Social Skills - July 10, 2019

Do you want your child to develop strong social skills?  Then buy him or her a puppy!  According to the latest scientific research (we already knew) having a pet dog helps children develop many positive characteristics.

Child development

Having a pet can help develop the following qualities in children:

  • Nurturing skills
  • Responsibility
  • Empathy
  • A caring attitude
  • Communication

Studies have shown that children with pets:

  • Have higher self esteem
  • Have improved social skills
  • Are more likely to be physically active, and less likely to be overweight or obese

Family harmony

Pet ownership also has a beneficial effect on family harmony. Research shows that families with a pet:

  • Spend a lot more time interacting
  • Have a basis for fun activities and friendly conversation including the important topics of life

For more on this fascinating topic, see this post: Scientific Research: Dogs are Good for Children.