2018
For Parents of Little Ones
September 2018

“For Parents of Little Ones,” Friend, September 2018

For Parents of Little Ones

Image
family playing with a puppy

Illustration by Dan Burr

This month the Sunbeam class will have a lesson about caring for animals. Caring for animals can help young children learn about God’s creations, learn to be responsible, and practice being kind. Teaching young children to be gentle with pets and respectful of wildlife can be fun for the whole family.

Here are some ideas to help your child be kind to animals:

  • Explain that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ created animals. Review the Creation story from the January 2018 Friend Junior. Look for animals in books, and encourage your child to learn more about them.

  • Take a walk and look for animals, birds, and bugs. Talk about how Heavenly Father and Jesus created all of these things as part of our world. Come up with ideas about what your family can do to take care of God’s creations.

  • Teach your child how to treat a pet. Practice gently petting a stuffed animal. Model asking a pet owner if it’s OK to pet their animal. Help your children learn to recognize when an animal doesn’t want to be touched.

  • Give your child opportunities to help care for an animal—in your home, at a neighbor’s house, or at a pet shelter. Chores like feeding and giving water to animals can help a child learn basic responsibility.