Last Updated: 3rd March 2023
GT Writing Task 2 / Essay Sample # 344
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Some people think that keeping pets is good for children while others think it is dangerous and unhealthy for them.
Which opinion do you agree with? Why?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Model Answer 1:
In recent times, pet-related injuries have sparked heated debates about whether it is wholesome for children to be around pets. In this essay, I shall argue that such dangers are overemphasised and that children receive substantive emotional and psychological benefits from having pets.
To commence with, although exotic pets (e.g. snakes, spiders, apes, etc.) have been known to occasionally hurt and even kill children, such incidents are so statistically rare as to be negligible. This is because the overwhelming majority of children have non-lethal cats, dogs, fish, rodents and rabbits for pets. For example, The Child Safety Institute found that over 90% of children owned the aforementioned pets, and professed that they had never felt in the least bit endangered by them. Seen in this light, it is clearly unfounded to claim that pets present any physical danger to children.
Secondly, pets have positive impacts on a child’s psychology. This is because young pet owners frequently empathise with their pets and perform a diverse range of actions to maintain their well-being (e.g. feeding, grooming, administering medicine, etc). For example, the Cambridge Developmental Psychology Unit found that children who had grown up with pets were 30% less likely to bully others and to resolve conflicts through aggression. Consequently, it is undeniable that a child’s prosociality and mental health can be improved through exposure to pets.
To conclude, the cited evidence provides strong support for the view that children owning pets is a good thing. In the future, as more laws are introduced to ban the ownership of illegally acquired exotic pets, this viewpoint will no doubt surge in popularity.
Sample Answer 2:
The topic of whether or not keeping pets is beneficial for children has been a topic of discussion for some time. While some people believe that pets are beneficial to children’s development, others argue that keeping pets can be dangerous and unhealthy for them. In my opinion, I agree with the former viewpoint, as there are many benefits that pets can bring to children’s lives.
To begin with, pets can help children to develop a sense of responsibility. When children are given the task of taking care of a pet, such as feeding and walking a dog, they learn to be accountable for another living being. This can help them to develop a sense of empathy and compassion, which are important qualities in any individual. Moreover, pets can provide children with a sense of companionship and love. For many children, having a pet can be a source of comfort and support during difficult times. Pets can also help children to develop their social skills, as they learn to interact with their pets and with other pet owners in their community.
However, it is important to note that keeping pets can also pose some risks to children’s health and safety. For example, some pets can carry diseases or parasites that can be harmful to humans, especially young children. Additionally, some pets may be aggressive or unpredictable, which can pose a risk to children’s safety.
In conclusion, while there are risks associated with keeping pets, I believe that the benefits of having a pet far outweigh the risks. Therefore, I think that parents should consider getting a pet for their children, but should also take steps to ensure that their children are safe and healthy around their pets.