Pets play an important role in teaching kids responsibility and many of life’s other vital skills. Having to take care of another creature and many times putting its needs above your own is one of the best ways to teach a child how to give selflessly.

There is no ‘across the board’ best pet for children.  Each child is different, so the pet he/she is given has to fit in with the level of responsibility that particular child is able to cope with. When it comes to making the decision of getting a pet for your child, it’s better to start small and with the easiest option possible. The last thing you want to do as a parent is to overwhelm your child with too much responsibility too soon (unless of course you are prepared to do all the work yourself).

The pets below are set in order of how difficult they are to care for, with the easiest at the very top.

Fish

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Fish are perfect first pets because although their care requires some participation from the child, the work involved is limited to one particular fish tank.  They don’t scatter pet-related mess all over the floor, are predicable, and cheap to maintain.

Make sure that the tank is set up a few days before the fish are introduced, so that the dust and tiny particles from the ‘furniture’ and gravel in their new home has had time to settle down. Find a cool place out of the sunshine and heat and work out a rota for cleaning and feeding before you bring the little ones home.

Keep in mind that your kids would be a bit over-enthusiastic at first which may result in them over-feeding the fish. This is dangerous, as the food stays uneaten at the bottom of the tank and poisons the water – killing the fish. Guppies and Goldfish make the best fish pets.

Hamsters

Hamsters are terribly easy to look after. They keep their mess in one area, they’re cheap to maintain and bring lots of fun to little children.  They need a warm cage, but one that’s kept away from sources of heat (like near radiators) and draught. Make sure that they have a little hiding place in their cage because they thrive on privacy and being able to burrow away in the daytime.  As long as they have enough food and water, some climbing and chewing objects, and a running wheel hamsters can live for up to two years and bring your family lots of joy.

Before you bring your hamster/s home make sure that your child is prepared to handle them every day. Give them about four days (before picking them up) to get used to their new environment after their arrival, but while they’re settling in talk to them so that they get used to your voice. Once they’re handled they become tamer and will often sit on your lap or in your hand without making any attempts to run away.

Remember that a hamster may bite (not seriously, as they only have tiny teeth to nibble with) if they’re disturbed while asleep.  I found that Syrians are the best hamsters for young children, as the others can be a bit too quick or nervous. Syrians – unlike some of the other types of hamsters – also like living on their own which means you only have to get one of them.

Hermit Crabs

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Hermit crabs can be very private animals, but they make good low-maintenance pets once tamed.  They will interact with your child on their own terms but will bring a lot of fun, as they’re very unique to watch and don’t mind being stroked.

Hermit crabs have to be fed and watered every day, and have their gravel changed about every four to five weeks.  They don’t make any mess or cause trouble and all their needs are contained to their tank. 

Guinea Pigs

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Guinea pigs are slightly upscale from hamsters. They are cheap and easy to keep but need slightly more complicated care than their smaller rodent counterpart. You and your child may want to read up on their maintenance before deciding if they’re right for you.

First of all, you will need two (preferably two females) as they like to be in pairs. If they are to live outdoors you will need a completely water-proof hutch which stands on legs. In the winter they may need to be brought indoors, at least into a draught-free garage or conservatory.

You can get packaged food from your pet shop, but ideally, their diet should be supplemented with fresh food high in Vitamin C. Guinea pigs are significantly different from hamsters because they are not known to bite when scared, can live for up to six years, and are awake for most of the day.

Rats

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If you can put up with their slight smell, rats make really good pets for young children. They are cheap to care for, they stay in their cage, and respond wonderfully to petting and stroking. They’re not as quick as hamsters and unlike guinea pigs, will live indoors all year round.

Rats can be trained to do little tricks, and are generally friendlier and smarter than all the other previously mentioned pets. They react well when taken out of their cage, and are awake for most of the day, ready to be played with and petted whenever your child desires. Food wise, it’s easy enough to get packaged food from supermarkets and pet shops (they love a bit of fresh food on occasions).

The only thing I found hard to handle with rats was the slight smell that wafted up from their cage every morning when I came downstairs.  Other than this, I found rats to be very entertaining and easy-going pets indeed.

Ideally, they should have their cage cleaned twice every week, and their food and water supplies topped up every day. Other than this, their maintenance is more or less straightforward and easy. The only reason they appear lower than Guinea pigs on my list is because of the smell I mentioned.

Budgies

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Some birds can be complicated to care for but Finches and Canaries, for example, make fine pets for young children. They are not too expensive to keep, and if kept in their cages, the mess they make is concentrated in just that area.

Even though birds are slightly more difficult and expensive to buy and maintain, they make exciting pets for kids because they’re very active most of the day, and are beautiful to watch. They preen themselves, chirp and chatter and interact with each other brilliantly. If you don’t mind the noise, and your child does not mind not being able to ‘pet’ them, birds can be a lovely addition to the family.

Budgies make extremely social pets and can be taught to say a few words in time. It’s important to keep in mind that with birds, their food, cage upkeep and vet bills may be slightly higher than the aforementioned pets.

Cats 

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You have to be certain that your child is ready for this kind of responsibility before you offer to get them a cat. Remember that cats are very expensive to maintain and vet bills can be very high.

If you don’t mind this and your child is ready to care for a cat, this type of pet can bring a lot of joy in exchange for all the hard work. A little kitten may cause a lot of destruction in the home if not given the right type of toys she needs to exert the abundance of energy she has. Her litter has to be cleaned daily and she is to be fed and watered properly each and every day.

The most important thing of all is that cats live very long lives.  Therefore, you have to be sure that your child is mature enough to make this extensive commitment.

Dogs

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Dogs are at the bottom of the list, not because they do not make fabulous pets (they certainly do) but because they require more work than all the other pets mentioned above. They make wonderful companions and respond to you in a way none of the other pets ever could.

Needless to say, dogs require a lot of your child’s time. They need daily exercise, play, feed, water, cleaning up after, training, and the list goes on.  Getting a dog should be a decision made over a period of months if not years.

I suggest having your child look after a dog in a shelter for a few months. Have him/her visit the shelter on week-day afternoons and Saturday mornings to walk, play with and help clean up after the dog. There are shelters which would run this type of programme for children and their families. If not, suggest to your child that they do some dog sitting before making a final decision.

Dogs also live very long lives, so they need a sustained commitment. When sure, a breed suitable to your child’s personality and needs will have to be decided upon.