Communicating with animals, an integral part of our lives and our closest friends, plays a huge role in the development of children. Stating that animals love people unconditionally, experts draw attention to the importance of communication with animals for the cognitive and psychological development of children. Communication with animals is of great importance for the development of children. Living with animals reduces the stress on children and reduces the incidence of allergic reactions. On the other hand, according to studies, keeping pets contributes not only to the psychological development of children but also to their physiological development. Children who have pets are less likely to have allergic reactions and are less likely to develop asthma.
Animals teach empathy
Expert Psychologist who stated that children feel relieved when they fight or are unhappy with their siblings by going to their pets and talking to them. Ayben Ertem, “A child who has a pet learns to empathize. He learns over time his pet’s mental state, hunger or what he does when he is afraid. In this way, his ability to empathize develops. In addition, children with pets at home are less anxious. “Children aged 3 and over spend more time with their pets without getting bored with their siblings. A child with any pet spends an average of 10 minutes with him, and an average of 2 and a half minutes with his sibling. Being with pets relaxes young children”
Pets enable children to socialize
Stating that children with pets are more social, Ertem said, “According to researchers; Children with pets have things in common to talk about, and having a common interest strengthens friendship and helps them socialize. When children are angry or upset about something, they relax the most with their pets, and they even talk to them and share their secrets. It is now known that pets reduce blood pressure and speed up the healing process from illness. It is seen that animals have an effect on children in post-traumatic stress disorder, behavioral disorder and autism spectrum disorderā .
Allergic reactions decrease
Ertem, drawing attention to a study conducted at the Georgia Medical School, “Suddenly Children who have more pets have 50 percent less allergic reactions than children who do not have any pets. Especially indoor allergies decrease considerably. This is because of the change in the immune system of the child when the bacteria in the house lick the children. At the same time, at a very early age. Children with a pet are also less likely to have asthmaā