Being a pet owner is an incredibly rewarding experience for the child. It allows learning many valuable life lessons and teaches responsibility. With the proper adult guidance coming from the parent, children learn dependability. Also, there are pets that offer a lot of affection and can establish incredible bonds with children.
The problem is you cannot simply go to a pet store and choose the first pet the child likes. You need to be smart about it and make the right choice. This is why A Pinch Of Thoughts recommends the following as the very best pets for kids.
Fish
We are sure this will surprise many but fish are perfect starter pets for kids. However, you need to choose a fish that is easy to raise, like the Betta fish. A goldfish can look great but it is not at all a good choice since it is much more difficult to raise.
Betta fish are perfect for a smaller aquarium.
Reptiles
This is definitely controversial but the truth is that many cold-blooded animals are better for children than most fuzzy, warm animals. For instance, tortoises can be great. Some can live over 50 years and can easily teach huge responsibility during those years.
Another thing you should know is that reptiles are nonallergic. This makes them a great choice for kids with allergies. However, remember that reptiles are not a good idea for very young children. Always research the exact care requirements to make appropriate choices.
Dogs
You surely knew this recommendation was coming. A puppy is definitely a classic pet for children. However, you cannot choose any breed. You need to adopt a dog that is well-socialized and completely comfortable around a kid.
While all breeds require significant commitments of effort and time from both the parent and the child, the best kid-friendly options to consider are Labrador retrievers, boxers, golden retrievers, and beagles.
Birds
A bird can definitely be a wonderful pet for the child. The problem is that this is demanding, more than with fish or a tortoise, but less than with a dog. Many birds have high intelligence and are social. But they do require daily attention.
A great example of a bird you can consider is the parakeet. It is a perfect starter. If you have more money, you can always choose cockatoos and cockatiels. But remember that these require more attention than the more common canaries and parakeets.
Rodents
The smaller mammals, like guinea pigs, gerbils, and hamsters are quite easy to raise. Most are going to thrive when living in some pretty small spaces and the actual care is very straightforward.
What you should remember is that hamsters are solitary. Other rodents are not. This is why you should seriously consider a pair, which basically means that you have to get 2. Make sure they are same-sex.
Teach the child to gently handle the rodents and be mindful of the fact that bites can happen. Discuss this with the child so that he/she knows that this does not mean the pet is bad.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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