Top 5 Best Pets for Children

 

By: Stanley P. & Faith P.

 

This post will give you the top 5 best pets for children in no particular order. In the wondrous world of pet keeping, there are many pets that one can choose to raise. Most children love animals, so raising a pet can be a fun experience and challenge for them. Owning a pet will teach your kid responsibility, empathy and provide them company. The challenging part comes in the fact that your kid will be taking care of a live pet. Due to this, some pets will be too demanding and could be a possible threat to your child. A suitable pet for a child has to be docile, easy to handle, and rarely bite. 

1. Fish

Fish are a perfect pet for kids in terms of ease; they bring no harm to children in any way. You can keep multiple fish in one aquarium and watch them grow and multiply over time. They are low maintenance. All your kid has to do is feed them once per day – or more, depending on the species. Docile fish like goldfish cannot bite, scratch you, or anything like that. The worst they can do is kiss your finger. Finally, they are great for keeping children interested. Although you can’t fully interact with fish, they are still great to watch. Children can feed them and watch them eat. Personally, I loved to feed fish as a kid. I guarantee that other kids will also love it.

However, you should consider that raising fish takes a lot of technical maintenance. You will need to buy a fish tank, its parts, and equipment which can be expensive. Typically, you would buy a good filter, water conditioner, heater, air pump, substrate, lighting, and test strips (pH, ammonia, nitrogen, etc.) These parts need to be maintained and replaced once in a while. Your filters probably won’t get everything, too, so you need to physically clean out your fish tank when the fish tank gets dirty and replace water when harmful compounds (ammonia, nitrogen) are at high levels.

2. Guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters

When getting a first pet, it’s good to start small. Small pets include guinea pigs, hamsters and gerbils. These creatures make good pets because they are easy to handle, keep track of, and are non-threatening to kids. Guinea pigs make excellent pets for young children because they are calm, rarely bite, and easily handled. Hamsters are also peaceful creatures but are primarily nocturnal, so prepare for some noise at night. From the experience of owning a hamster, I can say that caring for them is very straightforward. Gerbils will be the most active of these three and may become aggressive if threatened. When getting one of these animals, make sure you teach your kid how to handle them properly. Also, make sure the animal cage is secure, so your child can observe it without tampering with it. 

3. Rabbits

You can also consider owning a rabbit. Similar to guinea pigs, they are very calm and gentle creatures. Kids can easily pet them, and they are unlikely to bite. Even though your kid can pet and watch rabbits, you should always be there to supervise, especially when you let them out of their cage. Raising rabbits will take the same time and commitment as raising dogs or cats. Before you get a rabbit, make sure you understand its needs and how it will act. There may be times when holding your rabbit will make it uncomfortable. 

4. Geckos

Reptiles can be a great starting point for your kids. For kids, it’s best to get a retile that is docile, easy to manage and fun to watch. A suitable species for this is the leopard gecko. These geckos are mainly passive and easy to handle. Having kids take care of them is a great way to introduce your kid to the responsibilities of caring for a living creature. Leopard geckos also have a unique quirk; they have vocal cords meaning they can squeak and bark. They will no doubt keep your kid entertained.

5. Birds

Pet birds are great pets for entertaining kids. Pet birds are intelligent, and some of them can even mimic human speech. They are very social animals and love to hang around other animals. This means that you and your kid can develop a good relationship with your pet bird. A good bird to start with is budgies, also known as parakeets. You can often find these birds a local pet stores. Budgies will grow to have strong bonds with their owners, so if your child wants a best friend, they’re the perfect bird to have. Consider that birds will need quite a large cage, so they have room to move around; you need to make sure you have enough space to house them. Birds are pretty simple to care for, but make sure you understand their needs.

Conclusion 

Those were the top 5 best pets for children. Still, deciding what pet to give your child can be difficult. Consider all the variables first; this includes the pet’s behaviour, cost of care, your child’s interest, and if you will be able to put in the time and commitment the pet deserves. Getting a pet is a long-term responsibility; make sure that it is clear to your child that they can’t just throw away the animal when they don’t want to care for it. If you and your child have agreed to get a pet, any of the ones listed above would be a great start!

 

Links:

https://www.hartz.com/choosing-your-childs-first-pet/

https://be.chewy.com/7-essentials-for-your-freshwater-fish-tank/

https://www.thepetexpress.co.uk/blog/blog-new-products/the-beginners-guide-to-keeping-fish/

https://modestfish.com/how-to-clean-your-fish-tank/

https://www.thesprucepets.com/three-birds-great-pets-for-kids-390539 

https://www.parents.com/parenting/pets/kids/best-small-pets-for-your-child1/ 

https://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/are-rabbits-good-pets-for-kids-factors-to-consider/ 

https://www.zillarules.com/articles/are-reptiles-a-good-pet-for-kids