TB 30: Chickens in the Coop and Dogs in the Yard

Dogs, cats, hamsters, just the names make many of us cringe. The mess, the chaos, the fighting over feeding, cleaning, and caring for them, for many of us it just doesn't seem worth it. 

But there are so many opportunities and lessons to be learned through our pets. The lasting memories of the joy and trials of pet ownership help cement the teaching moments as they come along. 

In this podcast, Chaz talks about the lifetime lessons he learned as a homeschooler with a menagerie of pets from chickens, cows, dogs, and cats to chameleons and salamanders. He tells the story of losing a dog he loved, but wished he had spent more time with, and how it motivated him to be the dog owner he is today. He also discusses how pet ownership teaches children how to relate to people with compassion, tenderness, and a sense of responsibility. 

His mom and homeschool teacher, Christie, shares even more opportunities for learning that arises from having a family pet. She includes a discussion of the school topics, and life skills that can be jump started through curiosity about your pets anatomy or behaviors. She also discusses ideas for training your child to be a responsible pet owner. 

Through their own personal experiences, Chaz and Christie take the time to not only encourage homeschoolers to add a beloved family pet to their household, but to use the relationship that develops to train your child in many areas of academic, lifestyle and relational areas.