Today’s Parenting Tip:

DECIDE:   Pets can be fun.

PRACTICE:   Today, take your child and your pet out to play. If you don’t have a pet, you can borrow a neighbor’s pet.

Where to take the pet will depend on the type of animal. For many it might be a park. For others it could be your yard or just letting them out of their cages in the house for some free playtime.

Cautions:

* Be sure to select a place that will be safe for the type of animal.

* Be sure birds are protected from predators and from flying away.

* Some pets can’t be “taken out to play” at all because moving them is dangerous to them – like fish.

Don’t just watch the playtime. Be part of the play. Afterwards, talk about the fun you both had – and that the pet had.

Today’s Decide and Practice daily parenting tip was inspired by our featured picture book, PICK A PUP.  Read the book to a child in your life each day as a reminder of what you are deciding and practicing that day.

Come back each day for another good parenting decision and how to practice it. (Each day’s activity will also be posted on the Daily Parenting Tips page for easy access.)

Read the whole story at Kids and Pets: The Basics.