The Comparison-Contrast Analysis Toy and Pet

Running Head: COMPARISON-CONTRAST ANALYSIS 1
COMPARISON-CONTRAST ANALYSIS 2

The Comparison-Contrast Analysis

Name of Student
Name of Institution

Date

Toy and Pet
Thesis Statement: Both a toy and a pet can be used by child during their play. A toy is wholly responsive to the child and, thus, it is safer than a pet as it does not pose any risks of fights. A pet can pose risks of fights between it and a child. However, it offers good company and a more interactive play experience to a child. Thus, choosing between a toy and a pet for a child is a process that should be carefully done. Both of them can be essential to offer company and play experience.
Introduction
Both a pet and a toy have a couple of similarities and differences too. They are essential in offering play, company, and interactive experiences especially to young children. Mainly, this is based on their similarities which is why they are both suitable to any child. However, based on their differences, a toy may offer a different experience and interaction to a child from what a pet may offer (Wellman, 2013). Therefore, choosing between a toy and a pet is a crucial task. The following is an analysis that outlines the similarities between a toy and a pet:
Comparison and Contrast between a Toy and a Pet
Denoting the difference between a toy and a pet helps a parent to make choices. Toys are responsive to the children. They work as operated and controlled by the children during play. However, toys are not suitable for offering company to the children (Salthouse, 2016). On the other hand, pets such as dogs, cats, or rabbits may be friendly to children. However, they may be responsible for causing fights and eventual injuries such as scratching or wounding.
a) Comparison
(i) Play
Both a toy and a pet can be used by a child to play. Mostly, toys are designed to conduct different types of play. They may be suited to driving games, family-roles games, and other societal roles (Close, 2013). Toys are designed to boost the cognitive development of children. They enable children to assume and practice different roles that are available in the society.
Pets, on the other hand, are perfect for play together with children. Most of the pet animals are small and friendly to human beings. They also like playing especially with human beings or other interactive animals or items.
(ii) They Enhance Child Growth and Development
Both a toy and a pet enhance the growth and development of a child. During play, children can exercise their body parts intensively without having the feeling of loneliness. This enhances their physical growth and development as well as physical well-being (Salthouse, 2016). At the same time, having children play with toys and pets makes them see, experience, learn, and witness different things. A child can be able to conduct a certain role or function as a result of playing with a toy or a pet. This boosts their cognitive development.
(iii) Company
A toy and a pet are both used to get children involved and more active. They are capable of bringing the mind of a child into concentration (Wellman, 2013). They also provoke certain action from a child. A child enjoys the company of a toy or a pet especially after spending a few days with it.
b) Contrast
Although a toy compares to a pet in very many aspects, there are several differences that are associated between the two. Children may find have different experiences with toys as compared to pets as a result of this differences.
(i) Life
A toy does not have life. It is designed by a manufacturer to take on the outlook of something. A pet is an animal that has life. This is an important aspect to note before a parent can make a decision. Unlike a toy, a pet requires care and special treatment. This encompasses feeding, treatment or vaccination, and cleaning among others. A toy only requires cleaning and other simple maintenance purposes.
(ii) Interaction
A toy requires one to operate or control it. Thus, a child must learn how to operate a toy before he/she can use it. A toy is associated with limitation, in that; it does not interact actively with a child since it relies on the child for control. On the other hand, a pet is responsive and able to control itself. It can walk, run, jump, sit, or even sleep. This increases its potential to interact with a child. As a result, a child can enjoy the company offered by a pet more than that offered by a toy.
(iii) Training Requirements
There are two types of training that are associated with both a toy and a pet. First, a child requires training on how to use a toy or relate with a pet. Secondly, a pet requires training on how to interact with human beings and the child.
Unlike pets, toys do not require any training. With a toy, one only requires to train their child on how to use it. At the same time, one requires to train a child on how to relate with a pet. A pet, too, should be comprehensively trained in order to reduce any risks of injuries or wounding during the interaction with a child. Training on the interaction required between a pet and a child should be detailed and comprehensive. This is unlike the training required when dealing with a toy.
Conclusion
Toys and pets are essential during the period of early growth and development of a child. They offer training, company, experiences, and interactive moments. This is important for the physical and cognitive development of a child. At the same time, it boosts the well-being of a child in this stage. While selecting between a toy and a pet, a parent or a guardian should check out the comparison as well as contrast associated with the two. This will help him/her to make an informed decision on what to buy for a child.

References
Clouse, B. F. (2013). The student writer. McGraw-Hill.
Salthouse, T. A. (2016). Item analyses of memory differences. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 1-10.
Wellman, H. M. (Ed.). (2013). Children’s searching: The development of search skill and spatial representation. Psychology Press.