Here’s how this article would start if we lived in an ideal world. “Taking care of a pet can be a ritual that involves the whole family, teaching kids responsibility as they learn to feed, brush or walk an animal after school.” Uh, yeah.
Cut to reality, where pet care often lands on the to-do list of already exhausted parents. A kindergartener isn’t going to let a dog out at 2 a.m., and a fifth-grader isn’t going to be the one to quell the cat’s hunger strike at dawn.
So how do you manage the reality of the pet your kids promised to handle, while remembering that they’re just … kids? Idly is here to help!
1. Create a Profile for Your Pets
Our founder Laurel figured out this calendar hack, adding her Bunjidoodle Sulley to her account. By adding his picture and calendar to her family planning space, it became not just apparent what he needs, but fun to remember he’s a part of the mix. You can even add fish to your family, reminding your kids when to feed them (and when not to).
2. Make Tasks Repeatable
The best way to remember pet tasks is to associate them to consistent and repeatable parts of the week. That flea / tick medication you got from the vet that’s been collecting dust? Add a reminder on the same day every month. Those nails that are so long they snag on your favorite blanket? Add a “paw-dicure” every Sunday afternoon. The more you learn to predict and anticipate these needs, the more they become an effortless part of your routine.
3. Assign Responsibilities
Pick out a couple of the easier pet care tasks and assign them to your kids, teaching them responsibility in small, bite-sized doses. They’re not going to take the dog to the vet, but they could start tossing a ball around with him every Thursday after school.
4. Add Critical Information into Idly
Make a space devoted to your pet’s information in Idly and share it with anyone who may participate in their care, including the nanny or grandparents. Add their medical needs, preferred food and birthday, so that everyone has access to key information. You can make something as fun as a “wish list” for your pet, including plenty of belly rubs and comfy blankets to snuggle on, as well as shopping lists and favorite sitters or dog walkers. This helps keep all your pet’s information organized and easy-to-access.
5. Get Goofy with It
Why not make your pet the mascot of your home? Conduct a silly photo shoot with your cat or dog, or encourage your kids to draw a pattern of their likeness. Turn that into your calendar banner image so everyone knows just who’s boss.
We’d love to hear your tips for how you use Idly to share the task of pet care. We hope this helped you get started!
