Caring for a pet is a big responsibility - but did you know that it can also give a huge boost to your physical and mental well being along with your kids?

Really! A Tommy or a Rambo can play an important role in your kids day to day life. A research conducted on 256 school kids proves that, the children from pet owning families have better school attendance due to lower levels of absenteeism through illness than those from non-pet owning families.

According to Dr. Kallahalli Umesh, Waltham Scientific Communication Manager, Mars India, “It is a well-known fact that children are fascinated by pets. This interest can help facilitate learning and have a positive effect on your child’s development which further helps to lower the levels of illness.”

A pet also helps to develop a sense of reverence for life and gives your children a sense of responsibility and provide a fun route into many curriculum areas. Pet dogs have a stabilizing and therapeutic effect – both from a child’s perspective and a mother’s point of view. And the, reasons are clear – dogs represent a constant positive emotional feeling, an active challenge, give a sense of responsibility and freedom from disappointment and stress.

Highlights of the research

Absenteeism through illness was significantly less among pet-owning children

Pet-owning children attended school for an additional three weeks of school compared to non-pet owning children (aged five to seven years)

Children in primary school had 20 per cent  better attendance respectively than non-pet owning children.

Dr Umesh, further adds, “Different age groups of children can benefit from pet ownership as a pet can provide special feelings of support that are independent and additional to those provided by human relationships.”

The research further shows that exposure to pets is associated with a significantly reduced risk of illness and has been proved  that simple precautions involving grooming techniques, hygiene and dietary changes can reduce illness in your child.

*Image courtesy: © Thinkstock photos/Getty Images