Introduction of the Websites for Kids

Internet is often considered as the most valuable contribution of technology to mankind; its use is increasing rapidly all over the world. Human beings have been served by internet in several ways; it has helped us in the fields of education, business, communication and several others. The latest help that internet has provided is the education and entertainment of the kids, which was not provided previously. Most kids are yet acquainted with the use and importance of internet and websites; they depend on books and other medium for these.

However, most kids try to stay away from books and want to play and enjoy all the time. The websites for kids are designed in such a way that the kids can learn several things in the form of entertainment. This step taken by the websites for kids have proved to be very effective and have already helped several kids all over the world. Nowadays, most parents have to work all day long, due to which the kids have to stay alone at home all day long. When the parents are not at home, the kids do not study a bit, they play around with the babysitter all the time, which is harmful for their academic life. In such situations, the Website For Kids comes to be very helpful. The main purpose of these websites is to provide education in the form of entertainment and they do that perfectly.

The website designed for kids are pretty attractive; they have various features which attract the kids. Because of this, the kids love to surf these websites. Some of these websites also have free online games for the kids. Parents have a wrong idea that the games provided by the websites are harmful for the kids; but this is a complete wrong idea. The games that these websites provide are meant for educational purpose. They help the kids to a large extent. This strategy of providing education in the form of entertainment have helped the kids very much; a kid who used to stay away from books and studies previously, have started spending most of the time on these websites. Moreover, these websites designed for kids do not only provide education; they have several other features which help the kids in their personality development, boosting their inner strength and for increasing their mental sharpness.

Some of these websites have also got personal bands, which composes songs for the kids. One such well-known website for the kids is the Kidzter; this website has become quite popular all over the world. It has got its personal music band, the rockabyes, which composes special songs for the kids. Choosing the right website for a kid is very important; there are different types of websites designed according to the different age group of the kids. Some websites are made for the kids of age group 1 to 3 years, some sites for the elder ones and so on. If your kid stays alone at home all day long, then you should find such websites and provide them for your kid.

When Kids Make "Bad" Friends

One of the major worries parents have as their kids get older is whether or not their kids will make good friends. From their own experience, parents recognize that friends can have such a powerful influence over their kids - for good or for bad. Because of that influence, some parents enter into the trap of trying to control who their kids can have as friends. Once parents enter into a control battle over who they will allow their kids to be friends with, the parents have waged an unwinnable war that usually creates casualties on both sides and leaves the parent-child relationship strained if not broken.

Many of us know parents who have waged this war only to find that it fuels their kids' desire to spend time with the kids who worry the parents the most. These parents say to their kids, "I don't want you to hang out with that kid. I don't think he is a good influence on you," or, "why don't you make better friends; those kids will only get you into trouble."

When parents question or criticize their kids' ability to choose good friends, the message they send their kids is, "You have poor judgment and faulty thinking if you choose those kids as your friends" or, "you can't make good decisions on your own so you will probably just follow what everyone else is doing and get into trouble."

Why do good, healthy kids from stable homes make friends with wild kids? Kids sometimes choose to make friends with those who walk on the wild side because they want adventure and excitement and wild kids create adventure and excitement. Just because our kids make friends with kids who walk the wild side, it doesn't necessarily mean they will become like them; especially if we have given them opportunities to make plenty of mistakes and, with sadness and empathy, allowed them to feel the consequences for those mistakes.

Even though parents may feel a lot of anxiety over the choice of friends their children make, parents can do a lot to help their kids learn to make good decisions regarding friends and what they will do with those friends. As parents use opportunities to teach their kids, rather than restrain them, their children will be better prepared for when they push off and sail into the real world.

Here are some tips that parents can consider if they feel their kids are starting to make "the wrong kind of friends":

- Parents can refrain from calling their kids' friends "bad." Since most people are not all bad, parents tend to lose credibility with their kids by calling their child's friend "bad," especially if that friend has ever done anything good for their kid.

- Parents can ask their kids what they like about that specific friend. Not only will this show their child that they are interested in him or her and in their friends, but it will also give the parent information about what need the relationship with that friend is fulfilling for their child. Then parents might do things in order to help see that need gets met in positive ways. Open, and non-judgmental, communication with kids about their friends can strengthen parent-child relationships and provide support for their kids as their kids learn to take responsibility for their own choices.

- Parents can send messages to their kids that show confidence and leadership by saying things like, "That kid looks like he could use some good friends. I hope a lot of you rubs off on him. He is lucky to have a friend like you. I think it would be helpful if I got to know him; why don't you bring him around the house more."

- Finally, parents can wrap their arms around the concerning kid and help that kid feel included and a sense of belonging. Many of the kids who concern parents may not come from stable homes or feel a sense of belonging or connectedness. Healthy adults have a great opportunity to reach out to these kids and help them feel that they do matter and they do belong. They can do so by inviting these kids to participate in family events or by simply inviting them to eat with the family. Good food can have a powerful and comforting effect on kids who lack stability.

In summary, even though parents may not effectively be able to control who their kids choose as friends, parents do have a lot of influence over building good relationships with their children's friends (even the scary ones). As parents show confidence in their children's ability to make good choices in friends, and then bring their friends within the arms of the family, parents can have a great deal of influence over the relationships and situations in which their kids get involved.

Thanks for reading.

Shiloh Lundahl, LCSW

How To Select the Right Toys for Your Kids and How They Can Benefit Your Kid

Dear Friend,

Selecting the right toys for your kids can be easy at the same time challenging. It's all about knowing what your kid likes, don't like, and what they want for their enjoyment.

Toys for kids are what keep them focused, motivated, and developing their brainpower. The things kids learn from the toys you give them has a lot to do with how they develop they're character.

Toys today are much different from the toys made twenty years ago. Lego puts out more sophisticated building toys where your kid is nearly forced to be introduced to the concepts of an engineer, just at the level of a child. It's good to have your kid play with the right toys that make them think and become smarter.

Your children will usually know what they want. The indicator for this is when they're in a toy store and they point to the toy they want for whatever reason it is they become attracted to that toy. Most kids will point to everything due to the overwhelming excitement they get from the many options they have in front of them.

When you're selecting the right toys for your kids, be on the lookout for what really perks your child's interest. Your child will tell you by the cartoons you allow them to watch, the toys they play with their friends, or the toys they play with of their own.

If you have a young girl between the ages of 3 and 5, possibly she will be attracted to Dora the Explorer or maybe she will have an interest in Barbie dolls. You will know based on the amount of time she spends with her toys and what is popularized in the youthful world of innocence.

If you have a boy that is between the ages 4 and 8 maybe he will be interested in transformers toys, Star Wars Lego sets, or Pokemon. Your son will let you know his favorite kind of toys by either telling you, jumping up and down pointing to the toys of his choice, or seeing what his friends are playing with and wants to have it too.

Kids usually want what they don't have or what they see advertised on television. Asking your friends or neighbors what toys their kids play with and what they like can also help you decide on what to get for your child.

You can also search online to see what the most popular toys for kids are and how they benefit kids. You have more than one option when it comes to selecting the right toys for your children.

Toys that educate your kids using numbers and letters are good starter toys for young babies and toddlers. Musical toys that get your kids attention to be energized also help influence the mind of your kid and help the brainwaves to produce certain levels of calmness.

For instance, Glow Worm plays musicals for when you put your baby to sleep and helps meditate the mind of the infant. Selecting the right toys for your kids will determine the influence and the thought process that becomes extracted from the toys your kids play with.

Be selective and make sure you choose the best toys for your kid. It is the influence and habits that program your kid to be who he or she will become as the years go by. Your kids will love you more than anything simply by getting them toys they like and toys that are educational.

You kids will benefit from the right toys of choice by getting trained and educated a young age giving them a head start in life, your kid will be able to communicate more effectively during the stages of their childhood, your kid will increase his or her level of creativity, and your kid will become his or her own genius at such a young age.

How to Help Kids Manage Their Anxiety

When people are anxious or afraid, they act in ways that are unpredictable. Kids, more than anyone, tend to act out their fears. Here's one way of looking at it: you can tell what's going on in a movie by how the actors play their roles. Kids act out feelings in the same way- but they act them out through behavior, because they can't hold their emotions in. Some kids act out with hostility or aggression, because they can't handle the often severe agitation that anxiety triggers. Some kids become more depressed and others exhibit more attention-getting behavior. Parents often learn to read their child's behavior, looking for clues of what the problem might be so they can give them a solution.

Let me be clear: children will have to be taught the skills to identify, articulate and manage personal and social situations which make them anxious or afraid. If your child demonstrates behaviors that you think are triggered by anxiety, you must try to teach him the skills he needs to manage it in a healthy way instead of acting it out behaviorally, hiding out, or submerging emotionally.

So how do you help your child overcome anxiety? There are seven key things I believe parents should try to do to help their children:

7 Ways to Help Your Child Manage Their Anxiety

• Role play with younger kids: Look at pictures or magazines together and make up stories. Try asking questions like, "Look at this child. She's smiling. What do you think she's smiling about? Do you think she's going to have an ice cream cone? Or do you think she knows her mommy's proud of her? If you could ask her a question, what would you say to her?" Then switch to another photo and say, "Now look at this child. He's frowning. Do you think maybe he's afraid of something? Or maybe he didn't do his homework. What would you tell him to help her solve the problem of not doing it?" And then reason it through with them. Kids are not abstract thinkers, so you have to make things real concrete for them. One of the ways to make it real is by using pictures. You can teach kids how to talk to themselves in a positive way through this method as well. For instance, you can show your son or daughter a picture of another child who looks very confused or frightened, and say, "What do you think that child is saying to herself?" Often, your child won't be able to respond to this type of question because it's too abstract; kids are more black and white. So if they can't think of anything, you can say something like, "To me, he looks afraid because he doesn't know what's going on." Or, "I think she's sad because they forgot her birthday." Ask your child which of those two emotions the girl might be feeling. If your child says, "I don't know," say, "Take a guess. I think she's either feeling happy or frightened. Which one do you think she might be feeling? You're a great guesser. Take a guess." And after they try, you can say, "That's great. If I was her, and I was feeling sad or afraid, I would say things to myself like, 'I can handle this, I just have to take it easy and I'll figure it out. I'll talk to mom or dad about it.'" Understand that rehearsal and repetition are the major contributors to the effectiveness of this strategy. Kids need to rehearse things all the time. Often when you see kids talking to themselves (or with younger kids, to an imaginary friend), they're rehearsing or rehashing a previous experience. Repetition and rehearsal are really helpful tools for kids who are learning to become independent. And remember, independence is the best remedy for not acting out anxiety and fear. People who think and act independently also feel like they can make good choices about whether or not to take flight, sit tight, or get ready for a fight.
• Train children and adolescents in positive self-talk:  Parents have to learn how to teach their kids how to talk to themselves positively. Parents often put a lot of effort into teaching kids how to talk to other people, while putting very little thought into teaching their children how to talk to themselves. It just never occurs to them to do so. But just as kids have to learn how to speak to others, they learn to talk to themselves in either a positive or a negative way. Often kids will overhear adults saying something out of context, like, "They said he's doing poorly in math," and what the child says to himself is, "I'm doing poorly, they're angry at me, there's something wrong with me." When a kid is involved in negative self-talk, these sentences are repeated over and over in their heads. On the other hand, when kids develop the skill of positive self-talk-sometimes independently, sometimes taught by their parents through role play and pictures-they learn to talk to themselves more positively. They are able to say, "It's OK. It'll be all right, I can handle it." They can say this because they've learned how to say "It's OK and I'm OK" when they're feeling insecure or uncertain about themselves. "I can handle it," is probably one of the most powerful thoughts a human being can have, but few people realize it. And "I can handle it" is the key to positive thinking and positive self-talk.
• Teach kids how to come up with phrases to articulate their anxiety. As they mature, train kids what to say to identify and articulate what makes them nervous. Ask them, "Do you ever get jumpy or afraid?" Use real or made-up social situations to share some of your thoughts and feelings. Say, "You know, I think our neighbor Mr. Smith doesn't like me because he thinks I'm stupid. But I'm really smart, and I know it. So when I see him, I say to myself, 'I'm really smart. Maybe Mr. Smith can't see it, but I'm really smart.'" And then say, 'If I have to, I say, 'I'm really smart' over and over again until the 'stupid' feeling goes away. And then you ask your child, "Does anyone think badly of you?" Your child may say "No, that's never happened." You might continue, "If anything ever happens like that to you, what could you say to yourself? You could say, "I'm a good kid, I'm OK." And repeat it over and over to yourself.'" You can also ask them, "Are there people you think don't like you or don't want to be your friend?" When you talk to kids about these situations, don't use logic to probe their answer or analyze the situation. Be much more concrete. Logic will often confuse kids and make them feel like they're stupid.  Instead, during casual conversations, comment about other adults that don't like you. It's OK to say, "Mrs. Smith doesn't like me because she thinks we have a better house. And when I see her, I just tell myself, 'I can't change what she thinks.'" Then I say, "Hi, Mrs. Smith, how are you doing?" I can't change what she thinks, and I usually say that to myself as I'm walking away." This is one way of helping your child see what pushes their anxiety buttons, and also teaches them a way of releasing it by saying, "I can't change the way someone else thinks."
• Process it with them. Start asking "What" "When" "Where" "Are" and "Is"  questions. "Is there anything wrong with the school bus? What is it?" Don't ask them, "Why don't you want to ride on the school bus?" Say, "Are there other kids bothering you? Are you sure? Is there something they're saying or doing? Because if there is, we can help make that better. Kids don't have the right to bother other kids." You can also say, "If you don't have to ride the bus, what's going to be different, what's going to help you?" Work through it with your child. Reassurance is key. Remember to say, "If there's something going on, let me know, we can face anything together." The next time that you see they're upset, try saying, "Are you OK? How can I help? Can I help you with this problem?" Don't ask them why. Often when kids are asked why, they automatically sense they've done something wrong. Remember, they're rarely asked why when they've done something good. Kids are not asked, "Why did you clean your room?" In most cases, kids don't know how they feel, and I'm not sure it would help them if they did. In my experience, knowledge of how someone feels rarely changes behavior.
• Get as Much Information as Possible. Talk to your child's teachers about what they see regarding your child's level of anxiety. Ask questions like, "Have you noticed if my son has any problems with other kids? Does he appear to be nervous? He seems very worried about grades and if the other kids like him. Do you see any of that getting in his way at school? What do you see?" All kids have anxious thoughts, but some kids learn to manage them better than others at an earlier age. Get some objective feedback. Watch your child play with other kids. How does he or she handle things? Look for his or her ability to interact freely and deal with other kids with various behaviors. Is your child able to resolve problems with other kids successfully, and is he or she able to act independently as well as within the group?
• Reward kids when they learn to do things that are hard for them.  Remember, self esteem comes from doing things that are hard for you. Self-respect comes from doing things that you can respect. Reward your child and be sure to label what they did right in order to earn that reward. Don't assume kids can associate the reward with the task, even if the task occurred a couple minutes ago. Also, it's important not to always reward with things. Time spent with you reading a book or playing games or going to the playground can be tremendously rewarding.
• Honor Your Child's Choices When They're Not Ready or Capable. Maintain a realistic view of your child to continually determine whether what is being asked of him or her is in their developmental range and possible for them to do at all. Often, if kids don't want to get involved in something, such as team sports, the parents should talk about it with them and process it with them, but ultimately respect their child's decision. Parents must learn to come up with compromises or give their child a choice of at least two things. A compromise is saying, "Well, let's try it for a month." Or "let's try it three times, and then you can decide." Or you can say, "You can do A, or you can do B, but you must do one of them." Kids should not be forced to do the things that they don't have the internal skills to manage. Think of it this way: It's not good parenting to throw kids into the water before they can swim, even though many people swear by that. He may very well swim to the side and save himself. But remember this, he hasn't learned to swim by that, he's learned not to trust you and that you can't hear him. Parents do it because they're impatient, annoyed, or embarrassed by their kids. In the same way, don't force them to do things they're not ready to do.

Will My Child Ever Be Able to Manage his Anxiety Effectively?

In my experience, all children can learn to manage anxiety, if their parents possess or can learn to develop the skills necessary to teach them. Remember, it's very difficult for children to mature emotionally in areas where their parents are still immature. There are several ways that kids can learn how to deal with it independently. The first is that they grow up and become more mature, and frankly, immune to many of the things that used to hurt them. When rubbed enough, what once was a blister becomes a callous.

That being said, when kids experience moderate to severe anxiety, it does take training to help them learn how to manage it. Some kids only need these tools during a transition period, such as when they move to a new school or are in the midst of grieving a lost relative. Many of them will be able to learn ways of coping with it and move on with their lives. But in some kids, anxiety can become very powerful and sometimes blossom into something incomprehensible and crippling. Remember, many adults who are identified as having anxiety or panic disorders began the thinking and behavior that led to that early in childhood.

We are lucky that in this day and age there are many tools parents can learn how to use and give to their kids that can help their anxiety; these tools need to be applied thoroughly and consistently. That's why it's very important to begin getting help very early with your child if their anxiety appears to be getting more severe. It will enable them to learn to apply the tools and techniques they'll need to manage this level of anxiety into their adolescence and adult life, if necessary.

Remember, anxiety becomes a problem when it causes problems. Many, many kids say they don't want to go to school or ride the school bus, and it doesn't trigger inappropriate behavior. And they may tell you what's going on, or they may not. Either is normal and natural. Certainly, all kids will feel anxious, and this feeling may be something so intense that it interferes with your child's functioning. It may happen periodically as they grow, when they're going through a developmental change or a new experience or situation, like going to a new school, moving to a new town, or dealing with the birth of a sibling. Although these kids may need some help during the specific episodes, they generally can learn how to manage the situation. On the other hand, if the level of anxiety is so strong that it interferes with your child's abilities to function in a social or classroom situation at an age-appropriate level for an extended period of time, then I think you have to take it very seriously indeed.

Be sure to have your pediatrician rule out any medical issues that might cause anxiety to make sure it's not a problem with physical origins.

Anxiety is a very real, normal and natural part of child and adolescent experience and development. The best way for you to deal with this anxiety is not through probing for emotions or logic, but by learning concrete solutions to the problem of managing anxiety so it doesn't interfere with your child's functioning. Parents can acquire this knowledge through their own family situations, their life experiences, their education, or specific parenting training. In any case, it's critical for parents to understand the roots of anxiety and learn how they can help their children manage it.

Pets For Kids

Here are 10 Essential Reality Checks for YOU to consider when 'others' are considering the addition of a new pet to your family or household.

So you want a pet or at least your kids want a pet, well there is nothing unnatural about that, the whole idea will sound great...but wait a minute, stop and think.... there are some great positives about this idea....there are also some essential reality checks that need thinking about....a quick read through my checklists below will help you make a more realistic decision.
Remember the old saying "A pet is not just for Christmas". Someone will have to clear the 'pooh' up at the end of it .... all.

Essential Reality Check No. 1 -
The Type of Pet

The type of pets for kids you can take into your household will depend on a whole host of things such as follows:

The ages of your kids - a two year old child will probably not be able to handle a pet gently and certainly won't be able to care for the pet.....

How much will the pet costs be - not just to buy - but to care for on a daily basis?

What size of pet does your child want? - What space will be needed? A hamster does not take up much space but guinea pigs, ferrets and rats need much larger cages.

How much time do your kids and you as a family have to give to the pet?

Will your family be safe with the pet? Will the pet be safe with your family?

If you have a larger pet such as a dog, cat, or goat what effects will it have on your family, friends and neighbours?

How will your pet be cared for during your holidays.

Will your family be able to cope with the eventual death of a pet?

Some pets will sleep most of the day and be awake at night. Hamsters can be very noisy at night!

If your child wants a dog you will need to look into the breed, size and exercise needs of the dog.

Do you already have another pet, what effect will it have on that pet. For instance will your dog be OK with a cat or rabbit or bird?

Essential Reality Check No. 2 -
Ages of your Kids

You will need to decide on a pet that is suitable for the age of your kids.

For instance in most cases it would not be wise to buy a hamster for a two year old child who is still adapting to the world around them and may not know or be able to handle the hamster gently.

Do you want to give your kids some responsibility in caring for an animal. Some kids are very responsible and will be able to manage this. Other kids, well the sight of a baby animal is just too appealing, after all who can resist a cute puppy or kitten or baby hamster?

At first you may need to help your kids, as caring for a pet is a very responsible job. As a parent or carer you will always need to oversee a pet's care.

As the parent or carer you will need to decide if your child is old enough to handle and care for a pet. How often have parents heard the cry "oh but we promise we'll take it for walks everyday"
Or "we'll clean it out mum, we promise". How will you feel in a years time when you find yourself caring for the pets because the kids are busy with friends or away on a school trip or inundated with homework or just plain bored with the poor thing.

Essential Reality Check No. 3 -
True Costs of Pets for Kids

Some pets are very cheap to buy for instance hamsters, guinea pigs, goldfish. gerbils, fancy rats, fancy mice and rabbits and even ferrets.

You will still need to consider:
The cage set up (this can be very expensive when looking at the cage sizes that most pets need) in fact they need the largest cage you can manage

Food costs per week
Bedding
Vets bills if your pets become ill.
e.g. Ferrets need a yearly injection against canine distemper.
Holiday care - you will need to pay for this of course if you cannot rely on friends and family.

Bigger pets for kids such as goats, and dogs and pedigree cats are far more expensive to buy initially, some costing hundreds of pounds.
You will need to consider:
Bedding and a cage (if buying one for your dog or cat)
Leads and collars for dogs.
Food bills
Vets bills (dogs should have yearly check ups with a vets)
Toys
Holiday care (kennels can be very expensive)
Flea treatment
Ongoing veterinary costs if your pets becomes chronically ill.

Essential Reality Check No. 4 -
The Space Required

Even small pets for kids such as guinea pigs, fancy rats and ferrets need a lot of cage space for a happy life. They will need the biggest cages you can find space for. These pets also need space to exercise out of the cage.

Cats take up very little space, as do small breeds of dogs.
Dogs will need a decent sized garden as well as walks to keep them well exercised.

Essential Reality Check No. 5 -
Time for your Pets

Do you and the family have time for a pet.

For smaller pets you will need to have them out of the cage and being handled daily for at least 2 hours a day.

Do you have time to clean out your pet at least once or twice a week, or even daily?

Some pets will certainly need the toilet corner of their cage cleaned more often to avoid a foul smelling cage and pet.

Water bottles and food bowls will need cleaning and refilling every day.

Will you be able to walk your dog at least once a day? - dependent on the breed some need more!

Are you willing to look after your pets for kids for the many years some can live?
(From 18 months to 2 years for a mouse up to 15 years for a dog)

If you are out at work all day and the kids are at school all day your pets will need and will demand attention when you return home

Essential Reality Check No. 6 -
Your Pet and Family Safety

You will always need to ensure your kids safety when they are spending time with any pets.
Even little pets can bite and leave a wound.

Dogs should not be left unattended with your kids as they are unpredictable. Even a faithful dog will bite and even attack a child if they are in pain or afraid. It happens rarely - but it does happen.

You will also need to ensure your pets safety:Is your child able to handle a pet safely without hurting it.

Is your pet safe with any other pets in the home? - if you have young children and a dog .... you will need to make sure the dog cannot escape because a door is accidentally left open.

If you have a dog you need to ensure visitors safety as you can be sued if your dog bites someone on your property (or even off your property)

Make sure that when pets for kids are having free time out of cages that:
Other pets cannot hurt them
They cannot chew electrical leads
They cannot fall into toilets or baths of water.
They cannot escape through gaps in walls or floors
They cannot get outside without supervision

Essential Reality Check No. 7 -
Effects on Family and Neighbours

The whole family needs to be in agreement if you are getting pets. Pets can be noisy and messy having an effect on family living.

What effect will a pet such as a dog have on Granny who suffers with an allergy - will that mean she cannot come to visit anymore?

If you get a dog will it bark and howl when you leave them for any length of time and will this annoy your neighbours.
Will the dog bark when your neighbours are in their own garden.
How will your neighbours take to having your pet cat mess in their garden?

You will need to keep your yard free of dog mess to ensure it does not smell -particularly in summer months.

Essential Reality Check No. 8 -

Holidays and Care for Pets for kids

If you have pets for kids what will happen to them during your holiday times.

Do you have family or friends who can care for your pets while you are away.

If not you will have to pay for your pets care.

This will be expensive for dogs, cats and larger animals.

Even for little pets, holiday care can be expensive.

Essential Reality Check No. 9 -
Loss of a Pet and Grief

Some children are really sensitive and will be distraught when their beloved pet eventually passes away, or is lost in some way.

This is especially distressing if the pet has died as a result of an accident or illness.

How will you manage this?

The kids will need to grieve, grieving is a healthy part of a loss reaction. We can suffer losses every day in a small way such as not getting something we want, this causes a loss reaction and part of the healing for this is grief. If your child or other family member struggles with the grieving then look at the following and see if it applies. The grieving process has seven stepping stones through which people move. Your family member may not go through them in order or spend long on any one.

The stepping stones are:
Shock, Denial, Guilt, Anger, Depression Bargaining, Acceptance
Your child may want another pet this is called bargaining and is one of the stepping stones through the grief process.
If your child cannot have another pet, break down the hidden losses that the death of their pet has caused.
Could there be a loss of your child's self worth or self esteem.
Have they lost their only companion.
Has your child lost the only one who listened to them.
By chatting try to find out how your child is feeling and help them to work out their losses and then work through to acceptance by doing some healthy bargaining.
Would your child be able to regain their sense of worth or self esteem another way? Perhaps helping out with a friends pet for instance.

For some children it may be helpful to have a burial service, so they can say goodbye properly.

(My son kept some hair from his beloved dog)

Our kids have managed the deaths of their pets really well and have gone on to have other pets, for other kids though it has more of an effect so you will need to decide when or if to replace your child's pet.

Essential Reality Check No. 10 -
Pets for Kids are GREAT!

For the most part pets for kids are good fun. They are often good company for your kids especially if the kids are lonely.

Our autistic daughter has changed a lot since we got her guinea pigs to look after. She has gained some imaginative play, we think this is because she talks to her guinea pigs.
We do have to oversee her with them though.

Kids can learn a lot from caring for pets for kids and by having pets even when they are lost naturally.

Dogs can encourage the family out to get exercise as they walk the dog.

All our kids love their pets.