Almost all children sooner or later start asking their parents to buy a pet. If you do not mind getting a new family member, many questions arise. How to choose a pet for a child? How to find space in the house? How to get the child interested in spending time with a pet later? Usually, when choosing a pet, children prefer dogs, cats, birds, or rodents. However, much depends on the child's temperament, the size of your apartment, and the time you spend.
How To Choose a Pet?
Whatever animal you choose, most likely, you as a parent will have to take care of it the most. Only middle-aged or high school children will take care of their pets on their own. Young children often look at the animal as a living soft toy, so you need to choose a pet for the child so that in mutual communication, neither pet nor the child is hurt. If you have never had a pet before, find time to get educated about the pet your child wants. This will help to prevent inconveniences to happen after a pet is bought already.
Dog
Many consider a dog a full-fledged member of the family, so it needs round-the-clock attention and care on a par with a child. Often promises to walk with a dog every day got quickly forgotten by even the most responsible children. Be prepared for the fact that caring for a puppy will become your responsibility very quickly. To make sure that the child will take care of the pet alone, test him. If you have friends or relatives who can borrow the dog, take it for at least a week and put all the responsibilities of caring for the child. If this is not possible, agree with the child to pretend that you have a dog - let the child go for a walk early in the morning and evening, as if with a puppy. After a week of such walks, it will become clear whether a child is ready to take care of the dog.
Cat
What could be nicer than a warm fluffy creature that purrs soothingly and gently caresses? The kitten is a perfect pet for shy children. Children with this type of personality like to be alone, they are restrained, calm and thoughtful, so communication with the kitten will allow them to reveal themselves, give tenderness and love to the little furry. Cats do not need special conditions. They choose where to walk, where to sleep. All you need is to take care of your cat, follow a lot of recommendations, provide your pet with unique places toileting and feeding. You should know that your cat receives nutrition every day. Given this, you need to use automatic food feeders to supervise your cat's diet, though check out reviews on thepets.net to ensure you're getting an appropriate one that does the job well.
Hamster
Small, plump, harmless, and intelligent - these animals need some care, but no more than one so your child can handle the maintenance. Hamsters are the best choice for a family that wants an animal but is not ready for a cat or dog. Pocket pets are suitable for owners of small apartments because they do not need much space. But keep in mind - rodents are mostly nocturnal animals, so be prepared for noise in the middle of the night. Even if you clean the cage regularly, you can still smell it. And if you neglect to clean the cage, the smell can be just awful.
Guinea pig
Guinea pigs are mostly relatively tame, unpretentious in care, and very rarely bite children. They are usually active throughout the day, unlike hamsters, so that children can play with them more often. They should live in pairs and provided sufficient space. They need to be fed fresh, healthy food to help them meet their vitamin needs.
Fish
Goldfish is a classic choice but fragile and requires very complex care and a lot of space. In contrast, the rooster, or fighting fish, feels great even in a small aquarium. This species breathes atmospheric air, so water aeration is not required. The rooster is a beautiful fish, with long colorful fins. Aquarium fish are perfect as a sedative for easily aroused and restless kids.
Ant Farm
The ant farm is ideal for boys aged 5 to 8 who are very fond of insects. But ants are suitable for any child who is interested in science. Observing an ant farm can be a great way to learn about the nature and work ethic of these incredible insects. Encourage your child to keep daily drawings of the trails - this can lead to exciting discoveries. Farm maintenance includes removal of old food and debris, regular feeding (usually other insects and honey mixture), and access to freshwater.
Bird
Birds are bright, active and can be very social, but training birds requires time and patience, so they are not suitable for all children. Birds require regular cleaning of the cage, fresh food, and water, as well as a spacious cage with space for flights. Small birds do not like sudden movements or unexpected noise, so they are best cared for by older, calmer children. Unlike fish, birds are the noisiest animals in your home. But it allows the child to establish verbal contact in communication, to teach the bird to talk. This will not work with a dog or hamster. To teach a parrot to speak, it takes a lot of effort and perseverance. This will be especially useful for children with speech problems because teaching a parrot in one word or another, the child himself will try to pronounce them as best as possible.
Lizard
Lizards are fascinating pets, but not every species is suitable for a novice owner. Iguanas and lizards are cute and funny at first but then grow into 1.5-meter predators. If you are not ready to keep a "dinosaur" at home - pay attention to their safer relatives. These reptiles are good pets because they are not picky, odorless, and do not cause allergies. Geckos are elegant animals: they choose one place in the terrarium and go to the toilet only there. They are mostly friendly animals and quickly get used to the child.
Turtles
Turtles are aquatic and terrestrial. To begin with, it is worth deciding on the species, but keep in mind that many land turtles are in the Red Book, so selling and buying them without documents is illegal. It should be said that aquatic species are much bigger than terrestrial, so keep this in mind to choose an unusual pet. Land turtles mainly feed on plant food. They need a lot of moisture in nutrition, vitamins, and minerals. But water turtles are carnivores. Such reptiles are eaten by frogs, tadpoles, snails, and insects.
Snakes
No need to be afraid - snakes are often underestimated as home pets. Stay away from large and, of course, venomous species - and you will see that snakes can be exciting pets for children. The snake will need a terrarium (make sure it closes tightly to prevent escape), freshwater, and a heat source. And, of course, snakes are carnivores. They eat rodents about once a week. If this aspect of snake friendship is not a problem, feel free to get this reptile for your child. By taking care of a small pet, the child becomes more responsible and patient, which will help in older age. Psychologists and doctors agree that communication with pets has a positive effect on children's physical and mental health. So, whether to have a pet or not is up to the parents to decide. However, it is well-known that pets have a good effect on the emotional state of the child, and therefore on health.
