How to Choose a Pet For Your Child

It can be confusing when you're trying to choose a pet for your child. You have to strike a balance between what your child wants, what will most benefit them as a pet, and what pet is safe for them. Obviously, the first thing you need to do is to ask your child what pet they want. Then you need to consider whether it's possible to have that kind of pet, particularly considering the environment the pet is going to be in. For example, you can't have a great big dog if you live in a small apartment.

The next thing to consider is whether or not your child is responsible enough to look after the pet. Does the pet require much care? Consider the amount of commitment your child is likely to have towards looking after a needy pet. Does your child tend to stick to things, or do they tend to give up on them once the novelty has worn off?

You also need to consider how squeamish your child is. Would they mind if a gerbil was to make a mess in their hand? Also, would your child be able to feed the pet? If your child is fussy, then you need a clean pet that looks after itself, such as a cat.

But you also need to consider how energetic and active your child is. Or, to look at it another way, how active do you want your child to be? Owning a dog is a great excuse for a child to get out and get some exercise every day.