What Pets Are Good for Children?

Growing up with a pet can be a wonderful experience for a kid. As a child we always had family pets like fish, a dog, a couple of cats, and even a couple of small rodents along the way. Pets can help your children build a sense of responsibility and independence as well as teach discipline and nurturing skills. If you get the wrong pet for your child it may end up being neglected or worse. There are lots of pets that are great for kids and there are lots that may not be a good choice for your family. Learn how to bring a pet into your family and how to choose the right pet.

Whether you are considering purchasing a cat, dog, hamster, bird, reptile, or other pet you should first be aware that ANY pet is a huge responsibility. When you adopt or purchase an animal you are taking responsibility for its life. This may not be an idea that children grasp right away but any adult with children should be able to understand this. Pets require daily care, love, attention, and exercise. Depending on the pet you choose your child may have a hard time keeping up with the pets needs.

When considering purchasing a pet for your child it is best to start out small and work upward. Small pets like fish, birds, hamsters, and guinea pigs are all great for beginners. Each of these small pets are easy to care for, don't take up much space, and don't need much attention. If you are looking for a more traditional pet; cats, dogs, and rabbits are all good choices but will require more attention than smaller pets.

When searching for the perfect family pet DO NOT BUY ON IMPULSE and DO NOT GIVE PETS AS GIFTS. Most pets require at least a 10 year commitment and some animals live as long as 20 years. Buying a pet is not something you can do on a whim. You should first learn everything about the pet you want before buying. Giving pets as gifts often turns out badly as well. For one, the pet could be unwanted and neglected, it could just be bad timing, someone could be allergic, or you may become overwhelmed by how much care the animal actually requires. As always you should learn as much as possible before you ever go to the pet store or breeder.

Avoid goldfish because they create more waste and need to be cleaned up after more often.

Credit: Alejandro Heredia

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