ten best pets for kids choosing the best
pets for kids owning a pet can be a rewarding experience for a child a well-chosen pet can
bring years of Joy pet ownership can also be a chance for kids to learn valuable life
lessons as they care for a living creature pets can teach children about responsibility and
dependability with adult guidance as an added bonus some pets give affection in return for a
child's loving attention 1. fish a fish may be the perfect starter pet for a child but not j
ust
any fish will do goldfish may seem like the most obvious choice but they're actually more difficult
to raise than the Siamese fighting fish betta fish these Southeast Asian natives are adapted to
survive in isolation in surprisingly small amounts of stagnant water you may not even need
aerators filters heaters or chemicals however betta fish Thrive best in small aquariums with at
least two gallons of water regularly changed and kept between 76 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit 24 and
28 degree
s Celsius be sure to buy your fish from a store that has someone who can advise you on how
best to care for them 2. reptiles the appeal of cold-blooded creatures may be less obvious than
that of warm fuzzy animals but certain reptiles make prized pets tortoises such as the dutches the
plant-eating Russian tortoise can live more than 50 years some snake species also make excellent
pets although constrictors should be avoided added bonus reptiles are non-allergenic however keep in
mind that t
he American Academy of Pediatrics warns against reptiles as pets for young children
because they can easily transmit salmonella make sure to research specific care requirements
for any new reptile pet 3. birds birds can be excellent pets although owning a bird is more
demanding than caring for a tortoise or fish some birds are highly intelligent others are very
social all birds require almost daily attention the relatively inexpensive parakeet may be a good
starter for kids who haven't rais
ed birds before more expensive and more intelligent birds like
Cockatiels and cockatoos also make great pets but they may need more attention than parakeets
or canaries 4. rodents smaller mammals including hamsters guinea pigs and gerbils are relatively
easy to raise also most will thrive in a relatively small living space and Care is fairly
straightforward except for hamsters which are solitary it's best to obtain young same-sex pairs
regular gentle handling promotes friendliness be mindfu
l though that bites are possible should
rodents especially histors feel threatened surprisingly rats make excellent pets due to
their intelligence larger size and enjoyment of human companionship guinea pigs are also
good kid-friendly pets 5. cats kittens are childhood favorites who can resist the antics
of a fluffy feline notoriously independent cats need somewhat less care and attention than dogs
but no less commitment like dogs cats require regular Veterinary checkups and immunizations i
t's
important to choose a cat that's suitable to be around children a cat may be a better choice than
a dog if your family has limited living space your local animal shelter staff can advise you on the
temperaments of adoptable cats 6. dogs a cuddly puppy is probably the most classic children's Pet
keep in mind that choosing the ideal dog involves more than falling for big brown eyes some dogs
may be unsuitable for children before adopting a dog ensure that the dog is well socialized and
c
omfortable around children any breed will need a significant commitment of time and effort puppies
must be housebroken and require daily exercise regular Veterinary checkups and immunizations
and plenty of love every dog is different but kid-friendly breeds include Labrador retrievers
golden retrievers boxers beagle 7 insect odds six-legged creatures might not be the first to
come to mind when thinking of pets for children however owning an ant farm can be an entertaining
and educational ex
perience for a child various suppliers sell habitats designed to
let children directly observe ant activities ants can be shipped live or grown from eggs hermit
crabs are another example of creepy crawlies that are easily raised in captivity 8. brine shrimp
better known as sea monkeys brine shrimp are tiny Crustaceans that are essentially foolproof starter
pets that even small children can enjoy they're available in kits children need only add water and
watch these tiny shrimp emerge become
active and grow maintenance for these hearty creatures
involves adding feet about once a week and occasionally adding water to combat evaporation a
colony can Thrive for a year or more with minimal
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