A child’s best friend? The benefits of pets on children's mental health

From 7th-13th February, schools, youth groups, organisations and individuals across the UK will take part in Children’s Mental Health Week. The annual awareness week aims to help us grow together to stop children from facing mental health problems alone. In fact, it is estimated that 1 in 6 children have a diagnosable mental health problem, and many more struggle with challenges – ranging from bullying to bereavement1.

Recent industry research has demonstrated the overwhelmingly positive impact that owning a pet can have on well-being, with 90% of dog owners and 85% of cat owners being better off because of the positive impact owning a pet has on their lives2. In line with Children’s Mental Health Week, Kevin Thackrah, Director of pet-care specialists Petpals, shares his insight on why owning a pet could have a life-changing impact on your child.

“When you hear the phrase ‘a pet is for life’, it’s not only about the responsibility of the owner,” said Kevin. “In fact, it is also about the life-changing impact that owning a pet will have on the rest of your family and, crucially, your children. When you have access to a pet from an early age you are shaped by those interactions, and studies show an increased positive correlation between owning a pet and a child’s long-term wellbeing.”

Here, Kevin shares some of the elements as to why owning a pet has such a beneficial impact on your child’s mental health.

1. Care and commitment

Looking after a pet helps you develop positive habits, which will stay with you for the rest of your life. With children now more prone than ever to opt for time on an electronic device rather than partaking in some good old fashioned exercise, the responsibility of owning a pet will give them an irresistible reason to do so. These pet-centric responsibilities will not only lead to more engagement and an increased level of serotonin in your child, but also a sense of commitment that they will keep forever.

2. Keep your child’s tail wagging

The constant love and affection of a pet is a powerful tool in supporting your child against common issues such as anxiety. Due to the loving interactions with their pet a child is more likely to develop a positive self-image. These experiences will not only help in the short term, but they can create a lasting confidence that will help a child form healthy bonds throughout their life.

3. The language of pets

Owning a pet can build strong communication skills in your child. In my experience, a child who owns a pet will want to discuss their pet all the time. This can be with their peers in class, or when they see grandparents and other relatives outside of school. Whatever the occasion a child will be openly excited to talk about all things pets. From what to feed your cat, to why your rabbit must go to the vet, your child will be engaged and interested in the subject matter. Building these communication skills early on will make a big difference to your child’s wellbeing as they develop.

4. Thrilling fulfilment

Successfully looking after a pet is a wonderful and fulfilling feeling for a child. Not only will they receive plenty of love and affection from their pet for doing this, but they will also get a feeling of immense satisfaction for being great at something. Why is this significant? Because caring for another living thing feels good and increases your sense of self-worth. The impact of this positive emotion will then translate into other healthy emotions for your child.

5. The purrrfect friend

Pets can help children with disabilities develop strategies for coping in times of stress. As a parent, you will need to take care and spend time teaching your child how to safely interact with the pet. However, once both the pet and the child are trained the relationship that they develop can be hugely beneficial to your child and their mental health.

For more information about Petpals’ pet-care services, visit www.petpals.com/

1 Children’s Mental Health Week, Stats, 2022

2 PFMA, Pet Population Data. 2021

Notes to Editors

For more information, or to speak with Kevin Thackrah, contact Andy Jones at Rev PR on 07895 876745 or email andy@revpr.co.uk


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About Petpals

As the largest multi-service pet care franchise in the UK, Petpals know its way around the marketplace. Petpals has been helping franchisees achieve their goals for over 20 years and can help you capitalise on the nation’s love of animals to build a strong, profitable business. Whether you choose to start your business as an owner-operator or decide to invest in a team from the outset, the Petpals management franchise gives you the system for success. As a Petpals franchisee, you benefit from the knowledge and experience that has kept the franchise model as the market leader for the last 20 years. In a UK market where 59% of all households own a pet, including 12.5 million dogs, 12.2 million cats and another 8.1 million small pets*, Petpals' services are in high demand. * Pet Food Manufacturers Association’s Pet Population report 2021