Having a pet isn’t just a lot of fun and a forever friendship for a child, it can also teach them a lot of valuable life lessons. Pet ownership helps your child learn more about responsibility, compassion, respect, trust, and patience. And, owning a pet has many benefits for kids. In fact, children with pets often have better self-esteem, get better grades at school, and better health than their peers without an animal at home.

If your child has been asking for a pet for some time, you might be wondering whether or not giving in and getting them their own furry friend is going to be worth it. Bear in mind that while young children can learn a lot from having a pet, they should not be expected to care for it all by themselves, so you need to be willing to commit to getting a family pet yourself. We’ve put together some of the most valuable life lessons that children can learn from having a pet at home.