Some people believe that all children should have a pet or an animal to look after. Other people disagree, however, saying that this depends on a child’s circumstances. Consider these opposing views, and give your own opinion.

It is often said that children benefit from caring for domestic animals, especially in today’s technology-focussed world.

However

, the issue is not entirely straightforward, and arguments can

also

be made against the idea.

This

essay will discuss the debate, and give a concluding view. On the one hand, those who support the ownership of pets cite the various benefits that the activity can bring to a child. These range from understanding nutrition, to learning about biology and daily routines.

For example

, food selection and exercise activities contribute to

this

strand of development, which adds greatly to a child’s all-round education. Another argument is the emotional support that children receive from pets, meaning that the child feels more secure and

thus

more confident.

By contrast

, opponents of

this

view point out that not all children live in a situation where

pet

keeping is advisable, or even possible. Examples can be seen in less affluent countries, where the expense of maintaining a

pet

may be prohibitive.

In addition

, many children live in unstable family environments, due to

such

issues as unemployment or political turbulence. For these families, pets would probably suffer neglect, meaning that it would be unfair to keep them, or possibly even dangerous.

Finally

, it must be said that not all young people actually want to keep a

pet

, because their interests lie elsewhere. For these youngsters, animal ownership should not be encouraged. Overall, it seems advisable that the decision to keep a

pet

should be based on a child’s interest, ability and family circumstances, rather than on a general view that ‘all children’ should have animals. It would appear that

this

serves the interests of both the children and the pets involved.