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+--- Thread: easy pets for kids (/showthread.php?tid=78409)
easy pets for kids - lazydays - 05-20-2009
My two daughters are asking for pets on a daily basis now. Dogs, cats, rabbits etc. I am not thrilled with the idea of having a pet but recognize it may be a good thing for the girls. Dogs, cats and rabbits are not an option though. Whatever we get needs to be small and easy to care for. Suggestions and experiences? Thanks.
Re: easy pets for kids - DaviDC. - 05-20-2009
Pet rock.
They can be left unattended for days at a time.
Re: easy pets for kids - mattkime - 05-20-2009
worms.
Re: easy pets for kids - Ombligo - 05-20-2009
Gerbils.... primarily active during the day (hamsters are active at night). A ten gallon tank will give two a very nice home (get two of the same sex). They are fun to watch (I wanted to put my son's in the living room to watch their antics). Care is pretty minimal, food lasts 3-4 days, water the same. Change the bedding every week or two. Lifespan is about three years.
They get used to being handled as long as it is gentle.
Same basic thing holds true for a guinea pig except the tank needs to be larger and they live longer. They are also much noisier.
Re: easy pets for kids - AAA - 05-20-2009
sea monkees
or
lice
In all actuality, our mutt gives back more than we put in. For the maintenance, time and trouble, she has been a gift to us. Well worth the effort.
Just two scoops of food a day. She doesn't make any messes, bark, and all she desires is to be loved. I could not ask for more.
There are some very tiny breeds that would not take up much time or food. They can take care of themselves except the food/water thing mostly. I would not eliminate them from my list.
Re: easy pets for kids - vicrock - 05-20-2009
How old are the girls???
Re: easy pets for kids - Shakes - 05-20-2009
A Betta fish. One in a bowl, feed daily, clean once a month.
Re: easy pets for kids - zeppo2 - 05-20-2009
Bearded dragons can be fun, although there isn't much joy in touching them. We've run the gamut of all pets with our boys, who are now teenagers, and looking back at the lizards, snakes, birds, fish, etc.,
I would say everything else was a poor substitute for a dog or cat. The boys just never bonded that closely with the other animals. Could your girls be persuaded to temporarily be animal foster parents or the family participate in guide dog training? Or provide vacation pet sitting during summer just to get the experience? I agree that pets can be integral to a child learning responsibility, but it can definitely backfire if the pet doesn't elicit feelings of love in the child.
Re: easy pets for kids - lazydays - 05-20-2009
The girls are 9 and 4. Fish would be MY pick but I'm thinking they will want something they can touch. The gerbil might be a good idea.
Re: easy pets for kids - DaviDC. - 05-20-2009
Gerbils bite! Guinea pigs don't. Guinea pigs enjoy being petted & some actually enjoy being handled.