The history of mankind'sinitial connection with domesticated animals has long been debated, but a discovery in Israel of a man buried with his arms around a wolf-pup dating back 12,000 years, may be evidence of just how long ago humans discovered the benefits of having pets. Today, many families love their pets and consider their pets to be members of their own families. Whether you choose a cat, a dog, a horse, or a rabbit, the benefits to raising children in a home with pets are great.
關於人類最初馴養動物的歷史，是個爭論已久的話題。不過，在以色列考古發現了一位懷抱小狼崽的男子，時間可以上溯到12000年以前。由此可見，人類是從多久以前就發現了養寵物的好處。如今，許多家庭愛寵物，把寵物當做自己家庭的一員。不論選擇養貓、狗、馬或是兔子，在寵物的伴隨下成長，對孩子很有益處。
Here are some benefits to adding a pet to your family:
家裡養只寵物帶來的益處如下：
1. Pets give unconditional love. They are non-judgmental, and, especially for only children, lonely children, or children who have sibling rivalry or emotional distress, a pet gives them someone to talk to. A pet can comfort, give support, and listen to a child's troubles without judgment or consequence. And, when playing, a pet can become your child's partner and best buddy .
寵物會給予無條件的愛。他們不會評判，特別是對獨生子女、孤獨的孩子、有兄弟姐妹競爭或情緒困擾的孩子，寵物可以作為他們說話的對象。它能讓孩子感到舒適，給予孩子支持，傾聽孩子的煩惱不作評判和推論。玩樂的時候，寵物會成為孩子的好夥伴和最好的兄弟。
2. A pet can teach a child that he doesn't have to take out his anger or fear on others. Some children become bullies and if they don't have a safe place to share their truest emotions, they may project those emotions onto other children. Because a pet will love your child no matter what he says, a pet gives him a confidant, a safe place in which to verbally pour out his fears and his anger.
寵物能教會孩子不去遷怒他人或向他人發洩恐懼。有些孩子會變得橫行霸道，如果他們沒有找到一個安全的港灣去發洩真實的情緒，他們就可能會把其他的孩子當做發洩對象。因為不論孩子說什麼，寵物都會愛他、成為他的知己，同時也為孩子提供一個訴說內心恐懼和憤怒的地方。
3. A pet can teach empathy. Caring for a pet that is so dependent on you teachesempathy . Your child learns to read your pet's needs: is he hungry? Does he need to go outside? Maybe the pet is scared of the wind, rain or snow and needs to be comforted. Moreover, empathy is the one skill that can be taught and a skill that bullies often lack.
寵物讓孩子富有同情心。照顧很依賴人的寵物能教會人們富有同情心。你的孩子會學會去了解寵物的需求：他餓了?他需要去外面玩會嗎?也許它怕風、雨或者下雪，或是它需要安慰。而且，同情心是一項可以教會的技能，也是橫行霸道的孩子一般所缺乏的。
4. A pet can teach confidence and responsibility. Children can gain confidence by having the responsibility of caring for a pet. Children as young as three years old can manage simple tasks such as filling the pet's water and food bowls. As your child gets older, he cangroom and walk the pet.
寵物教孩子擁有自信心和責任心。孩子在照顧寵物的過程中會增加自信心。哪怕是三歲的小孩子也可以做到簡單的事情，像是給寵物餵水或者食物。隨著孩子年齡的增長，他會打扮寵物並帶它去散步。
5. Animals can helpsocialize children and increase verbal skills. You've likely seen even little kids who are still learning to talk attempting to chatter away with pets. In this way, pets give not only social and emotional support but also cognitive language skill support to children. A pet's simple presence provides verbal stimulus to help your child practice talking and socializing with another being.
動物能幫孩子們提高語言技能和社交技能。你可能已經看到過在學習說話的小孩子試圖跟寵物聊天。這樣，寵物不僅給了孩子社交和情感支持，也能幫他們學習認知語言技能。一隻寵物的存在給了孩子語言的刺激，幫助孩子們練習同另一個人說話和社交。
6. Pets (and animals in general) can be very therapeutic for children.Studies have shown how pets can help lower blood pressure, speed up recovery time, and reduce stress and anxiety. We see this with troubled children and Autistic children, and with children who experience PTSD: when they are with animals they can immediately relate because they sense the animals are unconditional in their love and affection.
寵物(動物)能治療孩子。研究表明，寵物能降低血壓、加速康復時間、減少壓力和焦慮。我們會看到有困難的孩子、患有自閉症的孩子以及患有創傷後壓迫紊亂症的孩子們，他們能很快的跟動物在一起，因為他們覺得動物會給他們無條件的愛以及付出不求回報的情感。
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（責任編輯：何瑩瑩）