In the journey of raising children to adulthood, many parents have found a very simple but extremely effective method: raising an animal in the house.
Whether it is a loyal dog, a cute cat or even just a small rabbit, the presence of those "berdy friends" brings many valuable lessons - especially a lesson about love.
When children are directly cared for an animal, they gradually learn to care, listen and be patient. From feeding them on time, changing clean water, and cleaning, children understand that for a healthy living creature, they not only need food, but also need care with the whole heart.
These are the first steps for children to form compassion and know how to love not only humans but also the small creatures around them.
Raising pets also helps children learn to control emotions. An angry baby may quickly wheeze when being splashed around by a lazy cat. A sad afternoon can become bustling just because the dog in the house keeps asking to take you for a walk. Love, once given, will return in such natural and beautiful ways.
More importantly, when raising an animal, children realize that they are responsible for another being. That is the foundation for maturity - something that books and theoretical lessons are unlikely to replace. Many parents share that since their children know how to take care of cats and dogs in the house, they have become more helpful to their parents, more self-conscious and especially live more gently with people around them.
Ms. Le Thao (33 years old, in Hung Yen), the mother of 7-year-old Bin, shared: My family has raised a cat since my child first entered school. At first it was because I liked it, but later I realized that having an animal in the house makes me grow up a lot. The child knows how to take food for the cat himself, gently pet the cat every night, and even tricks the cat into sleeping like a baby many times. Thanks to that, I live more affectionately and know how to share with others".
Not only for young children, many teachers also say that being close to animals helps children practice life skills. Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh - a teacher at a primary school in Hai Phong City - said: "Pets often tend to be lighter, less violent in communication. They learn patience, discipline and especially compassion - which is extremely necessary in the process of maturity".
Compassion is a "life skill" that needs to be nurtured from a young age. And one of the simplest and most effective ways is to let children grow up with an animal - where they are loved, play, and above all, learn to be kind.
