Are You Raising Your Kids to be Kind and Compassionate?

“I've always felt that animals are the purest spirits in the world. They don't fake or hide their feelings, and they are the most loyal creatures on Earth. And somehow we humans think we're smarter—what a joke.”

-Pink

Have you ever noticed that children who are taught to be gentle towards animals, grow up to be more compassionate and considerate in their relations with people as well? Many families have a pet at home. And as parents you need to notice how your children behave when animals and pets are around. Some kids develop an amazing bond with the pets. But kids can be cruel to animals as well, bully them and tease them for fun. As parents it becomes your duty to teach children to handle animals with care and be kind to them.

“Compassion for animals is intimately connected with goodness of character; and it may be confidently asserted that he who is cruel to animals cannot be a good man.”

-Arthur Schopenhauer

Caring for animals not only brings joy but also teach some of the very important lessons to children- the value of kindness, compassion, empathy, and responsibility. No matter what type of pet you have at home, be it dogs or cats or tortoise or snails or fishes in the aquarium tell your children to be nice to them. Children need to know that animals too have feelings and they deserve to be treated with respect and love.

It is important to teach and show your child the correct way to hold animals especially the small, delicate pets such as rabbit or hamsters. Besides encourage children to do something for the pet daily, such as taking the dog out for a walk, giving a treat to the pet, giving a bath to the cat, feeding the rabbits and the fishes or as simple as playing with the pets.

“Our task must be to free ourselves...by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.”

-Albert Einstein

Make sure that your child shows as much empathy towards other people' pets as he/she shows to his/her own pet. Loving your own pet and being cruel to other animals is not right. So it is essential that you teach your children to be gentle towards all animals.

Besides demonstrate how to be sensitive towards animals through your own actions. A home where parents share a wonderful bond with animals, children too learn to care for animals and develop a strong bond with them.

“When a man has pity on all living creatures then only is he noble.”

-Buddha

You can also educate children about animals by watching animal shows on Nat Geo, Animal Planet or such channels that run educative programs on animals and animal life. Take your kids to the zoo, encourage them to listen to the chirping of birds, take them for outings to the natural parks where they can watch the animals in their natural habitat.

Build up a close parent child relationship with your kids by reading to them a good book on animals, or watch a motivating video with them which shows why it is essential to take good care of animals and understanding their needs. These inspirational videos also offer great parenting advice on raising children and ways to strengthen child parent relationship.

Encourage your children to be loving and kind to animals. You will be amazed to find how these values lead to shaping the overall personality of your children and they grow up to be kind and compassionate human beings.