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is your kid feeling disconnected? get a dog
2 minute read
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there are many benefits to pet ownership — companionship, reasons to exercise, mental health — and a study published yesterday in the american journal pediatric research adds yet another that may prove even more useful during the pandemic.
researchers found that toddlers in families that own dogs are 30 per cent less likely to have conduct and peer problems than toddlers in dog-less families. family dog-walking at least once a week, and active play with the dog at least three times a week also increased the likelihood of prosocial behaviours.
“these results highlight that even a small to moderate commitment to involving preschoolers in time spent walking with the family dog may provide important social and emotional benefits for young children,” the study said.
with schools and daycares closed, pets may end up being more of a balm than parents could have expected.
pet ownership also helps with getting the appropriate amount of physical exercise. a 2017 report indicated that 62 to 84 per cent of canadian preschoolers aged three to four meet international physical activity guidelines. yet only 18 to 24 per cent meet screen time guidelines. for those aged one to two, only 15 per cent meet screen time guidelines.
an australian study found that children who walked the family dog reported 29 more minutes of physical activity a week than families without dogs. the solution may be lying right at their feet, eagerly wagging its tail.
the authors surveyed 1646 parents with dogs. for their emotional and social development, they used a version of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (sdq), which is one of the most widely used measures of children’s mental health and has been translated into more than 80 languages.
nsokic@postmedia.com | @sokic_
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if you love pets as much as we do, we have a new place for you. head over to postmedia’s tailstold.com to read amazing pet stories from across our network, and maybe even share a few of your own.
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