01/06/2025

ON SUNDAY JUNE 1, 2025 theSunday Special XII

SURE , pets are cute. They’re fun. They teach your child to giggle when a puppy chases its tail or when a cat knocks a pen off the table with subtle disdain. But beneath the laughter, something deeper lies. • Responsibility: When a child learns to feed a pet, refill its water bowl or help clean a cage, they begin to understand the needs of another be ing. It’s not theoretical – it’s tangible. Unlike a chore chart, a pet responds. Forgetting to feed the fish? There are consequences. That lesson sticks. • Empathy: Animals express them selves differently – through body language, silence or sounds. Learning to read these cues teaches kids to observe, pause and respond with care. A sulky cat or a scared dog can teach more about emotional intel ligence than a hundred storybooks. • Patience: A child throwing a ball over and over for an enthusiastic dog isn’t just having fun – they’re learning persistence. Watching a shy rescue cat come out of its shell over weeks shows the rewards of slow, gentle trust. • Grief and impermanence: It’s not the cheeriest topic, but when pets fall ill or grow old, children often experience their first brush with death. While painful, this can be a powerful life lesson — about the cycle of life, the value of time and the importance of love that asks for nothing in return. More than cute, they build character Sometimes, the desire for a pet is already enough to plant early seeds of empathy and compassion. It doesn’t need to happen overnight. The journey towards becoming a pet family can be gradual, thoughtful and just as rewarding in the long run. When not to get a pet (yet) Suppose your home is already stretched WKLQ ± ZKHWKHU HPRWLRQDOO\ ¿QDQFLDOO\ or logistically , adding a pet “for the sake of the kids” might not be the right call. In such cases, the additional responsi bilities could create more stress than joy, RYHUVKDGRZLQJ WKH YHU\ EHQH¿WV \RX¶UH hoping to provide. That doesn’t mean you have to shut the door entirely on the idea. There are gentler ways to nurture your child’s love for animals without committing to full-time pet ownership just yet. Consider spending time as a family volunteering at an animal shelter, where children can learn about care and responsibility in a structured environment. Visiting friends or relatives who have pets can also help children experience the joys and realities of having a pet companion. Even pet sitting for neigh bours – whether it’s feeding a cat during the holidays or walking a dog over the ZHHNHQG ± FDQ R̆ HU YDOXDEOH LQVLJKWV DQG spark meaningful connections.

Childhood with whiskers and wagging tails

In a world of screens and schedules, pets help children reconnect with care, empathy and real life companionship A SK any adult who grew up with a family pet and you’ll likely be met with a wistful smile and a story of a childhood best friend who had four legs, a wagging tail or a silent stare that said everything without a word. For many Malaysians, those early bonds weren’t just about companionship – they were about learning to love, care and grow. BY SIMON VELLA FDQ R̆ HU D GL̆ HUHQW NLQG RI FRPSDQLRQ ship – one that isn’t virtual. A dog nudging D IRRWEDOO FDQ SXOO D FKLOG R̆ WKH VFUHHQ A cat curling beside a school-going kid during homework creates presence – a silent but soothing ally.

There’s also a growing trend of therapy animals being introduced in special needs environments in Malaysia, such as sup port animals for children with autism. These animals often help reduce anxiety, encourage communication and build FRQ¿GHQFH :KLOH QRW HYHU\ SHW LV WUDLQHG IRU WKHUDS\ WKHLU SUHVHQFH FDQ VWLOO R̆ HU VLPLODU HPRWLRQDO EHQH¿WV LQ WKH KRPH Realistic expectations for parents That said, a pet is not a magical shortcut to parenting. It won’t teach your child everything through osmosis. You’ll still ¿QG \RXUVHOI UHPLQGLQJ WKHP VRPHWLPHV repeatedly, to scoop the litter, walk the dog or clean the food bowl. Yes, once the QRYHOW\ ZHDUV R̆ WKHUH¶V D JRRG FKDQFH you’ll be the one handling most of the responsibilities. But that’s all part of the learning curve. Over time and often without even realising it, children begin to internalise what it means to show up for someone other than themselves. The care they initially resist gradually becomes a quiet habit.

Children today are missing out on the quiet magic of growing up with a pet.

But in today’s urban, fast-paced lives, where tablets replace treehouses and schedules replace spontaneity, are chil dren missing out on the quiet magic of growing up with a pet? More importantly, what do children really gain from sharing their childhood with an animal? Malaysian homes and their pet dynamics In many Malaysian households, especially those with multiple generations, the ques tion of whether to get a pet often sparks debate. Grandma says no fur on the sofa. The kids beg for a rabbit. Dad worries about vet bills. So the conversation begins – but when it does lead to bringing an animal home, the impact can be beautiful. With more parents in Malaysia work ing long hours, many children spend afternoons indoors with gadgets. Pets

The key is to keep expectations age appropriate and to gradually build involvement. Young toddlers can start E\ KHOSLQJ WR UH¿OO ZDWHU ERZOV HYHQ LI it involves a little spillage. As they grow, primary school-aged children can take on grooming tasks, such as brushing or combing, learning to bond with their pet through gentle, routine touch. Teenagers are typically ready to take on more struc tured duties, such as following feeding schedules, monitoring basic health signs or even participating in vet visits. Rather than treating pet care as some thing to delegate, treat it as a shared fam ily journey. When the whole household participates, the pet becomes not just an individual’s responsibility, but a shared companion and that’s where the deepest lessons often emerge.