Every parent has heard the pitch. Half of these teach a child responsibility, the other half teach them about grief on a much shorter timeline.
1DogGrows up alongside the children, tolerates noise and gives them a reason to go outside.
2CatSets its own limits, which teaches a child that affection has to be earned.
3Guinea PigSturdy enough to be held, vocal enough to seem pleased about it.
4RabbitLooks like the obvious children's pet and is fussier about handling than most families expect.
5GoldfishThe classic first pet — visible, undemanding and impossible to cuddle.
6HamsterCheap and small, but nocturnal and quick to nip a clumsy hand.
7BudgerigarTalks back, which children find far more interesting than anything in a tank.
8RatGentle, clever and clean, with a short life that makes it a hard first loss.
9Bearded DragonCalm lizard that sits on an arm and turns feeding time into a science lesson.
10ChickenBackyard bird that pays rent in eggs and teaches routine.
11PonyThe pet a child asks for and a parent prices out.
12TortoiseSlow, hardy and likely to outlive the childhood it started in.
13FerretPlayful and mischievous, and too fast for a toddler to supervise.
14Hermit CrabA starter pet that survives inattention better than most.
Comments 1
Add small children and tolerance for being grabbed matters more than companionship, which is why the guinea pig and the priced-out pony share the field: https://youpick.best/articles/dogs-vs-cats-ranked
YP
ypb-teamAug 21
