Kids and pets keep us young at heart and bring us nothing but joy, fun, and a whole lot of happiness. As a celebration of all that our pets and little ones bring to our lives, Wednesday, April 26 is National Kids and Pets Day! Created by lifestyle expert, mom, and undeniable pet lover Colleen Paige in 2005, National Kids and Pets Day was designed to strengthen the magical bond shared between children and our furry animal friends, promote pet adoption, and educate children on how to safely handle their pets. According to Paige, ”The future of our children and their ability to show compassion toward animals and each other depends on us to give them the skills necessary to make the world a better, kinder place to live.” We couldn’t agree more. There is nothing in this world more rewarding than seeing the joy on a child’s face when playing with their favorite pet. Here are some fun ideas to help you make National Kids and Pets Day a special occasion and a day to remember for your kids and pets alike:
Go to the Park or Out for a Walk
Exercising together isn’t only a great way for your children and pets to bond and have fun, but it’s an excellent opportunity for children to learn some of the responsibilities of being a pet owner as well. Let your child hold the leash and perform some of the duties that you normally take care of. Most importantly, have fun together.
Give Plenty of Hugs
There’s no better way to show your children and pets how much you love them than giving them lots of hugs and cuddles. On National Kids and Pets Day, do just that and make long-lasting memories with plenty of group hugs, laughs, and cuddle time.
Give a Present
Children love gifts, and their canine pals do too! Surprise both of them with a fun toy. There’s an endless variety of toys for children and nearly as many for canines, cats, hamsters, and any other pets you may have.
Make a Special Treat
It’s a special day, so why not give them a special treat? While you could surprise your dog with a meaty bone and treat your children to ice cream, here’s a tasty, healthy, and dog-friendly recipe from Rachel Ray everyone in the family can enjoy together:
Canine Carrot Cupcakes
- One grated carrot
- Two mashed ripe bananas
- Six ounces cream cheese
- One egg
- Four cups wheat flour
- Two teaspoons ground cinnamon
- One teaspoon ground ginger
- One teaspoon ground all-spice
- One teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 cup honey
As you can see, these canine-friendly cupcakes can be whipped up with ingredients you likely already have in your pantry. Simply preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, grease a muffin pan, and mix all of the ingredients into a large bowl with three cups of water. Then, fill each muffin cup until they’re about 2/3 full and bake for 45 minutes.
That’s all there is too it. Your kids will love them and their canine pals will too!
Involving Children in the Daily Routine
In addition to the great National Kids and Pets Day ideas above, it’s a good idea to use this special day to begin involving children in the daily routines of their pets as this teaches them all about responsibility, compassion, and what being a pet owner entails. Some simple tasks children can participate in are learning how to refill the water bowls, measure the amount of food to give them, brush their coat, and so on. When children are old enough and capable of mastering these basic responsibilities, they can begin performing them regularly and truly enjoying the many benefits of pet ownership.
Have a happy and fun National Kids and Pets Day!
