A pet is a wonderful way to teach children about responsibility and respect for life. There are pros and cons to all kinds of pets; choosing a pet for your child should be a decision based on pros that will benefit your child and cons that you can accept.
Fish: Although fish may seem like a “safe†alternative to other pets, realize that everything that makes the fish seem “safe†to you will probably make it seem boring to your child. Having a fish won’t teach a child much more than how much to feed it, since there is really no opportunity to interact with it.
Reptiles: Snakes, frogs, toads, turtles, lizards, and other reptiles make exciting pets for children – but these pets are sometimes too exciting for parents. While these pets may be “cool†for your kids, keep in mind that most of them require a live diet, such as crickets or even (with larger snakes) mice). Feeding a pet live creatures may not be conducive to the lessons you want to impart, especially if your child is still very young.
Mice: My fascination with pet mice started with my first reading of Roald Dahl’s The Witches, in which the main character teaches his pair of white mice to do all sorts of circus tricks. While real mice might not be quite that fun, mice are busy little creatures that will give your child plenty of entertainment. One main concern is the size of the creatures – an overzealous child could easily crush a mouse and do it some serious damage.
Hamsters: Hamsters, like mice, are busy creatures. Fluffy hamsters, like teddy bear hamsters, are especially appealing to children, but keep in mind that you’ll have extra work teaching your child that hamsters are not just like your child’s stuffed animals. Hamsters also a better fit in a child’s hand, but unfortunately they can also have nasty temperaments. It’s especially noteworthy that hamsters are known for eating their offspring, so you might not want to have male and female hamsters together, unless you are prepared to explain to your child where the baby hamsters have gone.
Gerbils: While they are about the same size as hamsters, gerbils are much faster and – in my experience – much more aggressive. For the most part, I don’t recommend gerbils as pets for children, as a child will naturally want to hold his or her pet – and gerbils are far too fast and too likely to bite. They are quite entertaining in a cage, however, especially when you give them a small cardboard box or a handful of shredded paper to chew on.
Rats: Despite the bad rap that’s given them, rats are probably one of the best pets for a child. Rats are incredibly smart and friendly animals, and their size makes them easy for a child to handle – but much less likely to hurt. Although rats are known for carrying diseases, I doubt that this includes the rats sold in pet stores – these rats are specially bred to be pets. Don’t believe what you hear about rats being dirty, either – my rat spent at least as much time cleaning itself as my cat did. However, rats are also prone to cancer, and a rat’s lifespan might not be as long as you might like for your child’s pet.
Guinea pigs: Guinea pigs are perhaps the most common children’s pet, especially in classrooms. They are fairly gentle creatures, with the exception that they frighten easily, and may bite as a result. Children can handle them fairly well, but care should still be taken to show your child how to properly hold his or her pet.
Rabbits: Rabbits can be litterbox trained and can even be kept outside, making them convenient pets. However, if you plan to keep a rabbit outside, you need to take care to provide it with shade, to prevent it from dying from heatstroke, and you should be able to keep its hutch warm or move to it a warmer location in the winter. Also, female rabbits become very territorial and defensive, especially if they do not have babies, so I advise getting a male rabbit for your children.
Cats: Contrary to the old wives’ tales you might have heard, cats do not try to suffocate babies. They will be curious about the baby, naturally, but a cat in the crib should be no cause for concern. Keeping an independent pet like a cat will teach a child a lot more about respecting life than a small caged animal will, since the child will have to learn to respect a cat’s wishes or face the consequences; however, cats can be rather intolerant of small children, making it likely that your child won’t see much of said cat. Although this does teach a child how to respect other creatures, it’s a hard lesson for a child to learn when they don’t have many opportunities to play with the animal as well. If you want to keep a cat, it might be best to get one as a kitten when your child is still young. This way, your child will have a chance to play with the cat, and the cat will come to expect (and hopefully, be more tolerant of) the child’s tendencies.
Dogs: If you are thinking of getting a dog for your child, keep in mind that with bigger animals come bigger responsibilities. A dog will require a lot more care and attention than other animals, and while your child likely won’t be able to handle all of its needs, you should enlist his or her help in at least some of the tasks required to care for the dog. Again, getting the dog as a puppy would be advisable, so that the dog is used to your child’s antics, and likewise so that your child can experience the fun of a puppy.
Getting a pet is an exciting experience that no child should miss, and the pet makes for a fun way to teach your child about responsibility and respecting life. However, it’s also important to get not just any pet, but one that will suit the needs of both you and your child.