X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • SPF 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • Aptamil
    • Immunity
    • Intelligence
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • VIP

5 Ways to Help Your Child Deal With the Death of a Pet

3 min read

1. Ensure that your child is ready for a pet

The moment a child expresses interest in owning a pet, obtain as much information as you can about the species and breed of the pet he or she wants. It’s important for children to understand that animals, just like humans, can contract health problems and pass away.Talking to them about this is also a good way to teach the child about the responsibilities that come along with getting a pet, like feeding and maintenance. Use your parental instincts to decide if your child is ready for a pet, or if you should wait a few more years.

2. Don’t allow a pet to be your child’s sole companion

lack of emotional intelligence

Photo: iStock

Some parents decide to buy a pet for their child to curb their loneliness and act as a companion. While it is healthy for children to form positive relationships with pets, children also need to spend lots of time with their parents, siblings and other children of their age.

Children who feel like their pets are their ‘closest friends’ will take the death of a pet very badly. Don’t prevent your child from being emotionally invested in his pet but ensure that the child also has close friends and family members that he can confide in as well.

3. Remember the good times

It’s best to remind children of all the great memories that they have formed with their pets. Let them know that your pet has lived a long, happy and fulfilling life and teach them to be thankful for those special moments. Be honest with your child but spare them unnecessary details if you feel like they may not be able to handle it. It’s all right to use phrases like “Doggy heaven” to ease the emotional blow.

4. Allow your child to grieve

5 Ways to Help Your Child Deal With the Death of a Pet

An important step in dealing with any death is experiencing closure. If your child wants to have a ‘funeral service’ for your pet, then let him do so. Parents should take the grieving process seriously and encourage children to express their sadness in a healthy manner.

5. Don’t rush out to buy them another pet

Parents should not try to ‘replace’ deceased pets with new ones just to appease their children. Even though children may request for a new pet almost immediately, it’s essential to give children time to recover and move on from the death of their pet. In the meantime, spend lots of quality time with your child and remind him that he can always talk to you when he feels sad or misses his pet.

Partner Stories
5 effective tips to help kids focus and concentrate
5 effective tips to help kids focus and concentrate
How to discover and develop your kids' hidden talents
How to discover and develop your kids' hidden talents
How parents can combat childhood myopia
How parents can combat childhood myopia
Teenagers and eating disorders
Teenagers and eating disorders

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Felicia Chin

  • Home
  • /
  • Parenting Advice by BRAND'S® AlphaMynd
  • /
  • 5 Ways to Help Your Child Deal With the Death of a Pet
Share:
  • 5 Ways To Help Your Child Deal With Anxiety During Phase 2-Heightened Alert

    5 Ways To Help Your Child Deal With Anxiety During Phase 2-Heightened Alert

  • 3-month-old killed in a road attack; toddler sister injured, but stable

    3-month-old killed in a road attack; toddler sister injured, but stable

  • ‘You Will Always Be a Part of Us’: Singaporean Family Gives Helper of 20 Years ‘Long Service Award’

    ‘You Will Always Be a Part of Us’: Singaporean Family Gives Helper of 20 Years ‘Long Service Award’

  • STUDY: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters - What Does It Mean For You?

    STUDY: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters - What Does It Mean For You?

  • 5 Ways To Help Your Child Deal With Anxiety During Phase 2-Heightened Alert

    5 Ways To Help Your Child Deal With Anxiety During Phase 2-Heightened Alert

  • 3-month-old killed in a road attack; toddler sister injured, but stable

    3-month-old killed in a road attack; toddler sister injured, but stable

  • ‘You Will Always Be a Part of Us’: Singaporean Family Gives Helper of 20 Years ‘Long Service Award’

    ‘You Will Always Be a Part of Us’: Singaporean Family Gives Helper of 20 Years ‘Long Service Award’

  • STUDY: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters - What Does It Mean For You?

    STUDY: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters - What Does It Mean For You?

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and updates on baby care and health.