Presented by PetSmart. All opinions are 100% my own.
Choosing a first pet for your children can be a hard decision to make. Adding a new member to your family can be a large time commitment, but there are many valuable lessons your children can learn by having a pet. Choosing a small pet like a fish can enhance your little ones’ childhood and is a great first pet!
We recently decided to get a fish for our children’s first pet at PetSmart. They have a large assortment of fish to choose from, and while we had a blast looking around the store at all of the beautiful marine life, we ultimately decided to get a Betta fish and asmall tank.
So, what am I hoping my kids will learn from this experience?
1. Responsibility – Pets need regular food, water and cleaning of their habitats, and these tasks make learning valuable skills fun. By insisting that the child needs to feed and change the water of your family’s newest addition, they will learn that this fish will survive if and only if they take care of it properly.
2. Compassion – Interacting with pets on a daily basis can help kids learn to care for something beyond themselves by watching and learning about their pets’ day-to-day activities. Children often see pets as friends and want to protect them. For example, adults can explain that too much noise scares a pet, and the child will understand the need for good behavior.
3. Curiosity – Children will be naturally curious about their pet, which will inspire kids to explore the biology, anatomy, history and geography of these animals. Your kids will want to start conversations about their pets and they will be motivated to ask lots of questions and do some research.
4. Social Skills- Pets often provide a common interest among kids and aid in friendships and character building. Children will also want friends to come over to their homes to show them their pets.
5. Literacy Skills – Your children will be inspired to draw pictures of their new pets and write stories about them, whether at home or in a school setting. Watch their new pets stimulate creativity!
We are extremely happy with our new Betta fish “Fishy” becoming a member of our family. Fishy has become an integral part of our daily lives and has sparked the children’s curiosity.
The selection of fish and tanks from PetSmart will fit any personality and lifestyle. To find the store nearest you, Visit PetSmart Here!