The Role of Pets in Child Development

People usually land on a page like this when they’re weighing up a family pet, managing a child–pet relationship that already exists, or checking whether the “pets are good for kids” idea is actually backed by evidence.

The reality is quieter and more useful: pets can support children’s development in steady, everyday ways, but the benefits depend on the fit between the animal, the child, and the adults doing the supervising. The biggest stakes are safety, wellbeing, and the long tail of habits children learn about caring for another living creature.

Pets and child development: what the evidence can (and can’t) say

Research on pets and child development tends to find small-to-moderate associations with things like emotional skills, social connection, and physical activity, especially when the child has a warm, consistent bond with the animal. It also warns against simple cause-and-effect claims, because families who choose pets may already differ in routines, resources, housing, and support. ^{1, 2}

So it helps to think in mechanisms rather than promises: pets can provide regular chances to practise gentle touch, attention to body language, routine, and responsibility. Whether a child actually gains those skills depends on adult guidance and the child’s stage of development. ^{1, 2}

Attachment: why some children lean on pets

Attachment theory describes how children use reliable caregivers as a “secure base” during stress and exploration. While it was developed to explain human relationships, many children also seek comfort and regulation through contact with a trusted companion animal, particularly dogs. ²

The key detail is that comfort isn’t automatic. Studies suggest outcomes are more consistent when there’s a strong bond and positive, responsive interaction—rather than simply having a pet in the home. ²

Emotional development: empathy, regulation, and the practise of care

Pets create a daily, low-stakes setting for children to notice another creature’s needs: thirst, hunger, tiredness, excitement, stress. Over time, this can support empathy and emotional awareness—especially when adults help children read signals and respond gently. ^{2, 3}

Some longitudinal research also links pet ownership with aspects of children’s emotional expression over time, though results vary by study design and family context. ⁴

Social development: practice with communication and boundaries

For many children, animals become a kind of social training ground. A pet doesn’t respond to words alone; children learn that body language, tone, approach, and timing matter. Those lessons can carry into human relationships, but the evidence remains mixed and strongly influenced by the quality of the child–pet bond and the home environment. ^{1, 2}

Pets can also act as social “bridges” in public spaces—think of the way a dog walk creates small, repeated opportunities for interaction—though this benefit is more relevant for some families than others. ¹

Cognitive development: routines, problem-solving, and attention

There’s a popular idea that pets directly boost children’s cognition. The evidence is more cautious: systematic reviews suggest potential benefits across learning and development domains, but not enough consistency to claim a straightforward cognitive “lift” from pet ownership alone. ¹

What is clear is the shape of the opportunity. Feeding schedules, training basics, noticing changes in behaviour, and remembering care tasks can exercise planning, working memory, and flexible thinking—when adults keep expectations age-appropriate. ¹

Physical health: movement, outdoor time, and incidental exercise

Dogs, in particular, can nudge families towards regular walking and outdoor routines. That can increase a child’s day-to-day physical activity, even if it’s just small bursts of play and movement woven through the week. ¹

Hands-on care (filling bowls, brushing, setting up bedding) also builds practical motor skills—fine movements for clips and buckles, and bigger movements for carrying, cleaning, and walking—provided the tasks are safe and supervised. ⁵

Safety and health: the non-negotiables adults need to hold

The clearest guidance from health and animal welfare authorities is about supervision. Children, especially under school age, are at higher risk of dog bites, often from a dog they know, and risk rises around food, sleep, high-energy play, and cramped spaces. ⁵

Practical rules that prevent most problems

• Supervise closely whenever young children are near animals; if you can’t supervise, separate them. ⁵
• Protect eating and sleeping time: children should leave animals alone when they’re eating, resting, or asleep. ⁵
• Watch for stress signals (stiffness, growling, backing away, lip lifting) and calmly end the interaction. ⁵
• Hand hygiene matters after handling animals, bowls, toys, bedding, or outdoor play. ⁵

Pregnancy and cats: toxoplasmosis in plain language

If someone in the household is pregnant, toxoplasmosis is the main pet-related infection people worry about. Australian public health guidance recommends avoiding cleaning litter trays where possible (or using gloves and thorough handwashing), and it notes that food and soil exposures are also important routes—especially undercooked meat and unwashed produce. ^{6, 7}

This is usually manageable with routine hygiene, rather than rehoming a cat. If you’re pregnant and concerned about exposure, it’s worth discussing with your GP. ^{6, 7}

Choosing a pet for a child: fit beats fantasy

The “best” pet is the one the adults can care for consistently, even when the child loses interest, gets busy, or isn’t ready for the task. A calm, predictable animal in a stable routine tends to create the safest learning environment. ⁵

Quick checks before you commit

• Time: daily care, training, exercise, and supervision (especially with dogs). ⁵
• Budget: food, equipment, vaccinations, parasite control, emergencies.
• Space and housing rules: realistic room to move, containment, noise tolerance.
• Health factors: allergies, asthma triggers, and hygiene routines.
• Temperament match: energy level, tolerance for handling, and predictability around children. ⁵

How to maximise benefits (without turning it into a lesson)

The healthiest child–pet relationships are built out of small, repeatable moments: gentle pats, calm voices, consistent routines, and adults quietly stepping in before things tip into chaos. Children learn best when the rules are simple and the animal’s boundaries are protected. ⁵

Where a child is ready, give responsibilities that are concrete and safe—measuring food with an adult present, refreshing water, helping with brushing. Let the pet’s wellbeing be the standard, not the child’s performance. ⁵

Conclusion: a living relationship, not a developmental tool

Pets can support children’s emotional and social learning, add gentle structure to a household, and sometimes increase daily movement. The strongest evidence suggests benefits are most likely when the child has a secure, positive bond with the animal and when adults provide consistent supervision and guidance. ^{1, 2, 5}

They’re also not a substitute for human support, and they’re never a “set and forget” addition to family life. A pet is another living being in the home—one that does best when the adults stay steady, and the child learns by watching how care is done. ⁵

References

1. Purewal R, Christley R, Kordas K, et al. (2017). Companion animals and child/adolescent development: A systematic review of the evidence. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
2. Frontiers in Psychology (2023). Children’s bond with companion animals and associations with psychosocial health: A systematic review.
3. Frontiers in Psychology (2018). Associations Between Pet Ownership and Attitudes Toward Pets With Youth Socioemotional Outcomes.
4. Yamamoto M, et al. (2019). Pet Ownership and Children’s Emotional Expression: Propensity Score-Matched Analysis of Longitudinal Data from Japan. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
5. Better Health Channel (Victoria State Government). Animals and child safety.
6. National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). Staying Healthy: Toxoplasmosis fact sheet.
7. Department of Health Victoria. Toxoplasmosis (information and prevention).