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Pet Parrots
The acquisition of these delightful creatures should be considered very carefully since especially Parrots require a generous amount of stimulation which is additionally provided by toys.
In the wild, the foraging for food and the interminable investigating, exploring provided this stimulation. In the context of a caged environment but with additional daily access to fly about in an enclosed area, should be criterion for serious consideration in owning birds as pets for those with special needs. The need for this stimulation in pets offered ‘for’ those in need of stimulation makes for an interesting proposition. Surely the both being in need would be a ready fit asking to be requited. In cats and dogs the stimulation is going to come no matter what and in physical quantities that are robust to pull the autistic into a ready interaction.
With birds, the particular person in mind would ideally have a ready affinity to become captivated by the quirks, playing, talking and sometimes screeching and general mischief that make these pets so charming to us. It would be extremely easy for any autistic to become very quickly fixated by them… and in this case the fixation would be at least an attachment that has benefits to both. Things one loves are invariably going to be things one takes care of and seeks to engage with time and again. Since the greatest lovable attribute of birds as pets is their endless curiosity, the person must be able to engage and indulge this insatiable quest.
Again birds like dogs and cats could not care less about a persons inability to express verbally or pick up on social cues — they will simply want some interaction, attention to stimulate their curiosity. Many Parrots, the Mitred Conures for example, can develop biting and gnawing and screeching if ignored and so it is important to make certain the owner is able to interact with them. A minimum of 4 hours daily is suggested as engaging with them, yet what a thrill it will be. Parrots especially are active, endlessly inquisitive creatures for whom one ‘must’ provide toys for them to play with in addition to the direct human contact.
Again what child – even though autistic- would have a hope of resisting these playful, provocative comedians … if your child has not smiled or laughed … this almost certainly will change all that. What child could not delight to see right in front of their eyes the amazement of flight, a flying pet ! This is a guarantee that the child would certainly be drawn out of his/her inner self and begin interacting with another being … albeit a winged, chirpy, playful creature.