Our daughter has started helping us feed our cat, a process that often ends in her trying to eat the food she just put in the bowl. How did she learn this was something to eat? By watching the cat of course! Fortunately, the cat’s dishes are in the basement, a place still off limits to our little one.
The idea that infants and toddlers learn from pets is nothing new. However, as with any interaction between children and pets, care must be taken to address any potential issues. Myrna Milani, has written an article detailing how children learn from pets. Using a video clip similar to many found online, Dr. Milani examines the video several times, pointing out that while the video is very cute, there may be more going on than what we see at first glance.
Do you have a story about your child learning from a pet? Post it in the comments below.