Children’s Books And Pets: A Pawesome Match

Children’s Book Day is coming up Saturday, April 2nd. We know, books aren’t one of our usual topics. However, if you think about it, many great kids’ books do feature our animal companions. A local vet delves into this purrfect pairing in this article from Arapahoe Animal Hospital, your Boulder, CO vet serving Louisville and surrounding areas.

Benefits

Our furry friends are beneficial to kids in many ways. They teach children about kindness and empathy, and provide friendship, comfort, even (and perhaps especially) on bad days. They also make great playmates and napping buddies. It’s also not uncommon for pets to be a bit protective of their young humans.

Classics

We couldn’t possibly list all the great kids’ books that feature pets into this blog. There are just too many to list! However, there are some that have been captivating kids for ages. Some of these include Peter Rabbit, Clifford The Big Red Dog, and Charlotte’s Web, to name just a few. These types of books can be very important to children! Animal characters can help teach kids that animals are living beings with personalities, quirks, and feelings, and that they should always be treated gently and with respect.

Benefits

Bedtime stories may very well be one of humanity’s oldest traditions. Even before there were books, people told their kids stories at night! For one thing, it’s great bonding time. It’s also a chance to teach your little one valuable life lessons in small, fun doses. (It also helps kids fall asleep, which is a huge plus in and of itself.) If you have a pet, include your furry pal in your nightly storytime.

Projects

Do you recall seeing news stories a few years ago about kids reading to shelter pets? This turned out to be great for both the children and the pets. In fact, there’s a project specifically focused on having kids read to shelter pets? It’s called We Are All Ears, and it’s run by Petpartners. To learn more, check out their website here. Of course, this can also come in handy at home. If your youngster is having a hard time learning to read, have them read to the household pet. Fido and Fluffy make great listeners!

Please contact us here at Arapahoe Animal Hospital, your Boulder, CO vet serving Louisville and surrounding areas, anytime. We’re here for you!