According to a new University of Cambridge study, children actually get more satisfaction from the relationship they have with their pet than they do with their siblings and actually get along better with their animal than their brothers or sisters. Not only that, a dog or a cat could be more beneficial to your child’s development. The study notes that there is evidence a pet can have a positive effect on a child’s development, social skills and emotional well-being.
"Even though pets may not fully understand or respond verbally, the level of disclosure to pets was no less than to siblings," Matt Cassells, the study’s lead researcher, shares. "The fact that pets cannot understand or talk back may even be a benefit as it means they are completely non-judgmental.” And in a lot of cases a heck of a lot cuter!
Source: Waltham.com
photo: Dan Kitwood / Staff