Look who’s talking — maybe your pet?
Credit: Kidsday staff artist / Kaylah Bozkurtian, Garden City
We talked to kids in sixth grade to find out if they had a pet, if they talk to their pet, and if their pet talks back.
We surveyed 139 kids. We found out that 79 had pets and 64 of those people talk to their pets. More than half the kids — 66 percent — said that their pets talk back!
It was interesting to find out about this side of our peers’ lives. We were surprised at how many kids didn’t have pets at all, but we were even more surprised to find out how many pets talk back.
Kids said they ask the pets how their day was or when they wake up they say good morning to them. We found out that the kids had a “coziness” with their pets so they could share secrets, share problems or other conversations. They also liked that their pets could keep their secrets.
Some of the pets made normal sounds like “bark” and “meow” and other pets made weird noises or said things like “good night,” “good morning,” and “I have to use the bathroom.” We are not so sure of the last one! This survey taught us that kids in Clarke Middle School have crazy pets.
Lori Shyman’s sixth-grade class, Clarke Middle School, Westbury
