Great Pets for Children

When your child is old enough for a pet you should help them choose one that is easy to take care of. Not all pets will be low maintenance but some are still better than others. Here is a list of popular childhood pets.

Fish are the easiest pets to take care of. All you have to do is feed them twice a day and periodically clean their aquarium. Some aquariums are made so that maintenance is only needed once a month. A good type of fish to start off with is the Goldfish. Tropical or special care fish might be too much for a child to handle.

A frog makes a great pet that the child can play with (if gentle enough). You only need an aquarium, rocks, pebbles and some plant life to make a suitable habitat.

Birds are noisy but fun to have. They require little room, only the amount of space for their cages. They can be messy though so cleaning would be a very regular thing. Some of the more expensive birds can talk and children love to teach them words. I wouldn't get this pet for a child unless you were willing to clean up after them as well. It might be too much for a child to handle if the bird loves to fling its wings and get seeds all over the floor.

Sea Monkeys are very interesting. They are simply brine shrimp but come in a container and with tools that allow children to actually watch them grow. Some grow to be quit large. They require little feeding and the proper amount of light.

Kittens are more popular than puppies as childhood pets for two main reasons. They are easier to house train and don't make as many messes. This doesn't mean they are trouble free though. Kittens are cute so most of the things they do are over looked such as the use of your curtains as a climbing post. They climb everything and always want attention. If it's a male kitten just wait until they grow up a little and starting "calling" for a partner. If you can stand all of this then a cat is a good choice for you and your child. Kittens and children do however make wonderful friends.

Puppies are harder to house train and you can be sure they will have many bathroom accidents. They also love to chew anything within reach and will eat any piece of food (or something that smells like food) they can find. Puppies are like little children themselves but the bond they form with children is loving, nurturing and life long.

Both kittens and puppies need a lot of love and attention. They also need space to run around and puppies need to be walked on a regular schedule. If done the right way these pets could be used to show your children the benefits of having more responsibility. Hard work (feeding, bathing, walking, cleaning up after) results in having a healthy companion that they are responsible for.