Unmistakable joy can be seen on a child’s face when they encounter a new puppy or amiable older cat. Our children frequently end up desiring a pet of their own. Yet, some families find it simpler to start small and postpone obtaining a dog or cat.
To select the perfect match for your house and family, research before choosing your child’s new best friend. Take time, evaluate the obligations, and consider these seven little animals that best fit you and your children.
Bearded Dragon
Because they are often calm and gentle reptiles, bearded dragons make ideal pets. They tend to be passive and become calmer as they age. As bearded dragons are typically calm, their overall maintenance is also easy. A lot of them even like to perch on their keepers’ shoulders.
However, proper housing is one essential requirement to keep in mind before you get one. The recommended tank size for one adult bearded dragon is between 55 and 75 gallons, with a safe screen top. Juveniles can be kept in smaller tanks but will shortly outgrow them. You also need to maintain a proper temperature around the tank. Temperatures can range from 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit at night, with daytime highs of 95 to 105 degrees.
Most bearded dragon owners want to learn more about bearded dragons’ UVB requirements. Click here to learn more: Do bearded dragons need light at night, and how crucial is it for bearded dragons to get enough UVB lighting?
Life Span: Upto 15 years
Favorite Food: Live Mealworms, Kingworms, and Crickets
Guinea Pigs
Kids looking for a companion animal that enjoys exploring and eating vegetables out of their hands should consider guinea pigs. They are simple to maintain and can be kept in a cage with adequate ventilation.
Besides their cage and bowls for food and water, they don’t need any extra equipment. Guinea pigs only need to be fed daily and their living space cleaned, unlike other pets requiring routine grooming.
Positive reinforcement training methods can also be used with guinea pigs. They can be taught to run through tunnels and mazes and use wheels if given the time and chance. These tiny animals enjoy interacting with people a lot, especially if it happens early on.
Life Span: Upto 8 years
Favorite Diet: Carrots and Broccoli
Rabbits
Your family might benefit from owning a rabbit as a pet if your kids are generally quiet and well-behaved. Although these gentle animals form bonds with their owners, they are often wary and scared by loud noises and sudden movements. These creatures will make excellent family pets as long as there is adult supervision.
If you give a litter box, rabbits will utilize it because they are relatively obedient. Also, they require a cage that is roomy enough for them to move about and stretch. Rabbits can live in groups and enjoy social interaction.
Life Span: Upto 9 years
Favorite Diet: fresh hay
Parakeets
Little and colorful parakeets are excellent pets. Usually, parakeets are housed in cage enclosures. However, some bird keepers create specific spaces where birds can fly in their houses. Yet it’s crucial to guarantee that your bird is secure in these places. Ensure the bird is safe from other pets and cannot escape by closing all the curtains in the flight area.
Although they can be trained to talk and whistle, they don’t always master these abilities. They prefer being around their caretakers in the same room because they are highly social animals. The easiest way to keep a parakeet content is to provide them with many toys and chewables in addition to daily servings of fresh fruits and vegetables.
They also like taking at least one daily bowl bath, although this should not be done too frequently as it could cause their skin to dry.
Life Span: Upto 15 years
Favorite Diet: Spray millet
Goldfish
With their brilliant colors and unique personalities, goldfish are fascinating. Goldfish are low-maintenance pets that need their water changed frequently and fed regularly. Kids gain discipline and responsibility when caring for the aquarium and feeding the goldfish. It’s understandable why goldfish are such a great learning tool for kids because caring for them can be rewarding and pleasurable.
Encourage imagination and inventiveness in your child when assembling the tank for the first time. The whole family will become closer if caring for the goldfish tank is a family activity.
Goldfish maintenance is less expensive than maintaining other pets, although you must buy the required tank equipment.
Life Span: Upto 15 years
Favorite Diet: A mixture of specialized goldfish flake and granules
Greek Tortoise
Because they are small and eat vegetables, Greek tortoises are chosen above other turtles and terrapins. Greek tortoises should be kept in a sizable wooden naturalistic environment because they are about 5-8 inches long when fully grown. In contrast to glass and plastic, which would encourage constant escape attempts, this enables them to understand their bounds.
Greek tortoises don’t like to be handled, so they’re a great pet for kids who want to watch their animals go about their everyday lives.
They are renowned for being incredibly receptive and involved. They will approach their carers for food while being friendly and exciting.
Life Span: Upto 100 years
Favorite Diet: A variety of dark, leafy greens and other vegetables.
Leopard Geckos
Younger pet owners should consider leopard geckos. As long as they are fed consistently, and their surroundings are periodically cleaned, they are little, simple to care for, and don’t need much space or attention. If the substrate and temperature are suitable, they can be kept in a straightforward tank.
They don’t require expensive lighting fixtures or elaborate decorations; you only need a few hides for them to hide in and some secure accents, such as fake plants made specifically for reptile enclosures. A leopard gecko can be the ideal pet if you’re searching for something adorable but low-maintenance.
Life Span: Upto 15 years
Favorite Diet: Crickets and Mealworms
Bottomline
So, think about the animal’s lifetime, how much daily engagement it needs, the cost, compatibility with other pets, and its grooming requirements while looking for a tiny pet to gift your child. It is never too early to let your kids learn life virtues, and with the right pet, they can learn to be responsible and compassionate.
As a parent, you want to take your child’s education seriously. You want to do everything you can as a parent to support your child’s education. Nevertheless, between school, homework, extracurriculars, and family obligations, it can be challenging to do so. To help you stay on top, check out these Easy Ways For Supporting Your Kids Education designed for elementary, middle, or high school parenting.