Your pet is truly a member of the family and your child is never too young to learn how to treat it.

Description:
In most households, pets are considered a part of the family. They are companions who bring joy to adults and children alike. When your child is very young, he or she must be taught that pets deserve our care and respect, and be given guidelines for how to play with them safely. As kids get older, they can begin to take on responsibility for some of their pet's care.

Children will have fun planning the activity below and will love the idea of devoting a day to the special furry, feathered, or scaled someone in their life.

Step by Step:

These activities are for children two years of age and up.

• Schedule a 'Pet Appreciation Day."
• If you have a dog, go to the park with the whole family, and play ball or Frisbee or just run around! Make sure it is park where dogs are allowed off the leash, and bring plastic bags so that you can clean up after Rover should nature call!
• If you have pets that cannot leave the house, simple lavish them with attention and a few extra treats.
• Check out a library book about a very special pet and read it with your child. One fun selection is Martha Calling by Susan Meddaugh, about a talking dog who wins a radio contest.

Materials:
Pet Snacks
Pet toys
Books about pets