Owning a pet can be a very positive experience for your child. Taking care of a pet can also teach your child how to care for others and helps them learn how to be responsible.

However, a poorly chosen pet may become ignored by your child and ends up being your responsibility. It is important to choose a pet that matches your child’s age, preferences, favourite activities and personality. Here are a few tips for choosing the best pet that matches your child and brings them many years of joy!

Goldfish

The humble goldfish is a fantastic starter-pet and perfect for children of all ages. There is very little work involved with owning a gold fish and they will survive for several years. You can teach your child how to feed their fish and clean the tank, which gives them an important job and some personal responsibility. However, care must be taken to feed the gold fish correctly.

When to choose a gold fish:

• You have a very young child and you are looking for a starter-pet
• You have limited space or live in an apartment
• Your child is not responsible enough to look after a large animal

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Dogs

Puppies are very cute and children are drawn to them from a young age. However, parents must be very careful when choosing a dog as a pet. Ideally, dogs should only be purchased for active children who are older than 7 years of age.

They should not be purchased for toddlers, because a toddler does not understand how their actions can hurt animals. A toddler will pull the hair on a dog or slap them without realising that it causes the animal pain.

It is also important to choose a dog based upon how active your child is. Do they love going to the beach, going on walks and playing sports? Are they responsible and already perform chores around the house? Then a dog may be the perfect pet.

If the child prefers to watch television and performs chores poorly, avoid dogs for now.

When to choose a dog as a pet:

• You have an active child who is 7 or older
• Your child is responsible for things around the house already and can perform chores like cleaning their room

Cat

A cat can be a very comforting pet for a child and they tend to be more independent than a dog which makes them ideal for less-active children. Similar to dogs, they aren’t always suitable for young children and there is some work associated with owning a cat. At the least, your child should be capable of feeding their cat. Cats can scratch children who are pestering it, so make sure that your child understands how to treat animals before getting a cat.

When to choose a cat:

• You have a child who is 7 years old or older
• Your child is responsible for things around the house already and can perform chores like cleaning their room
• Your child does not have allergies

Gerbil or Hamster

These are lovely little furry creatures that are cute and easy to look after. They are easy to manage, less expensive to feed, don’t require much attention and children love playing with them. If you aren’t quite ready for a dog or cat, a gerbil or hamster is ideal. They are ideal for families who aren’t home during the day because they are nocturnal animals.

When to choose a gerbil or hamster:

• You have a young child who is not ready for a dog or cat
• Your family is out during the day
• You are looking for a low-hassle pet

Birds

There are a variety of birds that are suitable pets for children, but care must be taken when selecting which species to purchase. Some birds can be extremely noisy, messy and even aggressive! They are relatively easy to look after and a child as young as 5 years of age can perform tasks like cleaning their cage and topping up their food/water.

When to choose a bird:

• You have a child prefers a “hands-off” pet
• When you require a pet that requires little work

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