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A toddler boy plays with a beagle dog.

Is It Time for a Pet?

Hello parents! This week, I have not been able to get puppies off my brain. Suddenly, I  have this yearning for some sweet puppy love. Should a new furry family member join the party, though? There is much to consider when deciding whether to get a pet when you have small children. 

Let’s get into it!

A lot of work

First, let’s talk about the time and workload. Kiddos age five and younger aren’t really able to help with pet responsibilities.

If you are considering a dog, you’ll want to plan on the adults taking the pup out to go potty and for walks each day. 

Kiddos may be able to help with tiring the pup out by playing, but you will always need to supervise interactions between a new dog and your little one. 

Age of the pet

 If you are really set on wanting a new family pet, it could be helpful to look at older animals that are already trained and more calm in general.

Puppies and kittens are much more time consuming in terms of having to house and crate train. And life with toddlers already can be unpredictable, making it a difficult combination with young pets that you are trying to train.

 If you are looking to adopt a pet, ask about the animal's history with young children. 

Other animals

Also consider other animals, such as gerbils, bunnies and guinea pigs. They can be a really good alternative to a cat or dog. 

They are contained to a cage or enclosure and do require a lot less time consuming tasks day to day. You should  factor in the time needed for cleaning out the cage or litter box.

Also, don’t forget those caged furry friends still need and love some play time and affection. 

Gentle touches

If you have decided on adding a new furry family member, it can be helpful to prepare the kiddos ahead of time. You’ll want to really hone in on the “gentle touch” of it all. Kiddos don’t have the same impulse control that grown ups acquire over our many years stomping the earth.

 As much fun as it can be to surprise your little one with a new pet, it is important to prepare them and help them understand what the expectations will be in order to have a new pet in the home. That's one way to really set your kiddo up for success. 

You can cover topics such as how to pet a dog or cat, not pulling on their fur. Talk to kiddos about giving the new pet space when they are sleeping or trying to eat. 

Lots to consider

It can be a BIG decision, whether or not to invite a family pet into the mix of what could be considered a chaotic home. I know mine is. 

For right now, I’ve come to realize that i don’t think I could handle another living creature relying on me. Will you be getting a pet soon? 

I appreciate you all working through this with me, and I hope it was helpful for you as well. 

Sophie Hamel is a freelance writer and works as a crisis responder. Her son is a three-year-old preschooler.

Happy little African American boy in a pumpkin patch in autumn,

Hi, parents, and happy October! I’m so happy to celebrate my favorite season of the year. It's that time of year for fall fun with little ones. Here are some autumn- and Halloween-themed suggestions to keep your little one entertained.

As always, we are keeping these as simple as can be. Let’s get started! 

Squishy Fun

First is an activity that is great for our really tiny humans. If you plan to carve pumpkins, don’t throw away the guts of the pumpkin.

Instead, toss them in a gallon zip lock bag to create a super simple and squishy sensory activity for those 12-24-month-olds.

This way they are still involved in the pumpkin carving, but in a safe way. And this allows us parents to really focus on our own pumpkins, am I right? 

Pumpkin Washing

Another idea for our little littles is a pumpkin washing station. To keep it really simple, go for smaller pumpkins. You’ll need to grab a container, fill it with warm soapy water, and make sure there you’re set up in an area that is protected from the splashing or is OK to get wet.

Our three- and four-year-olds can really get involved in the activity by washing everyone’s pumpkins before the carving begins! 

With larger pumpkins, skip placing them in water. Instead, just give your little one a couple of washcloths and some warm soapy water. This way they can wipe down all the pumpkins, and get them nice and clean for carving. But you don’t have to find a giant tote to fill with water either. 

Sensory Bin

Another easy peasy sensory activity for our littles ones is a fall-themed sensory bin.

You could use multicolored dry pasta, pinecones, smooth acorns, or even some leaves. There is basically no mess when it comes to this activity since everything is pretty large and we parents love to hear that.

Give this one a try and let me know how it goes and how long your kiddo stayed engaged in the activity. 

Hunting for Decorations

This next one, I just did with my kiddo over the past weekend, and we had such a good time. I realized, I didn’t have any Autumn or Halloween decorations for our house! As such a huge fan of this time of year, that did not sit right with me. Lack of storage space keeps me from holding onto a lot of decorations, other than those we have for Christamas. 

So, I asked my kiddo if he wanted to go to the thrift store to pick out some decorations. Surprise, surprise, his response was “NOW?” It just so happened we had a few free hours before I had to go to work. So, I said “Sure!” and we were off. 

We headed over to our local Goodwill. I really tried to let him pick out the things he thought would be cute for our little home. He found some pumpkin string lights (LOVE), tealight candle holders (one black cat, a pumpkin, and a little ghost), a wooden pumpkin door hanger, and the cutest little stuffed pumpkin with a black top hat and black and white striped arms and legs. They are absolutely perfect.

Extra tip: Bring something to donate to the thrift store. Most thrift stores offer a coupon for making a donation. So not only was everything pretty cheap in the first place, we also got 20% off! We spent a total of only $10. And we had a great time doing it. 

But, the fun didn’t stop there. We still get to go home and decorate with our super fun finds. 

There you have it, friends! Easy peasy autumn activities to incorporate when you’ve got the time.

I hope they are just as much fun for you as they were for me. Let me know how it goes!

Sophie Hamel is a freelance writer and works as a crisis responder. Her son is a 3½-year-old preschooler.



Luminous removes the hassle of arranging for tuition vouchers and helps make childcare affordable. Vouchers can help ease your financial stress. Learn more about qualifying for HRA and ACS vouchers at our Bronx and Brooklyn centers. Payment can also be made by SEIU/1199 Child Care, check, credit card, and through the Luminous reimbursement program. Contact Luminous Early Childhood Learning Center at enrollment@luminouschildcare.orgor call us at 929.228.1180.