Deciding on a Kid-Friendly Pet

The Best Pets for Kids

To make pet ownership a positive experience for your family, choose a pet that's appropriate for your situation. Consider the space you have available to house and exercise a pet, how much time you can devote to its care, what your budget will allow and the maturity level of your children. Here are three great options for families:

Hermit crabs.

If you have little kids and you're hesitant to add one more commitment to your jam-packed schedule, hermit crabs are a great option. They're easy to care for—simply clean their habitat once a week, and make sure they have fresh water and food—and inexpensive. Expect to spend a couple of bucks for the crabs (they're social, so get more than one), and perhaps $20-$30 more on food, a water bowl, gravel or sand, a habitat and a few bigger shells for the crabs to move into once they grow. Kids will have fun finding twigs and branches—crabs love to climb—holding the animals and watching them scuttle across the floor. You may have them for a while, though: Crabs in captivity can live up to 30 years.

Guinea pigs

Small and cuddly, guinea pigs are friendly and easy to tame. Because they like being handled, they're also a great pet for children. Pigs require a large cage—bigger than what most starter kits come with—an exercise wheel or ball, food and water. They eat commercial food plus fruits and vegetables, live about 5-7 years and like to be housed in a high-traffic area of your home. Children can take responsibility for their piggie by handling it, changing its food and water, and cleaning its habitat. Costs vary, but expect to spend $10-$35 for the pig, $50 and up for the cage, plus extra for food and accessories.

Dogs

Dogs are by far the most social and interactive pet you can add to your family—and arguably the most rewarding. Dogs love people and really become attached to them, but they do require training and exercise in addition to routine care like grooming and feeding. They can also be expensive. Adoption costs from pet shelters or breed rescue groups can run as high as a few hundred dollars, and purebred pups can cost thousands. According to American Pet Products Association, the annual cost for owing a dog is $1,400. (Pet health insurance, which can cost as low as $35 a month, takes the financial decision out of pet health care.) Dogs live 10-12 years on average, and are the perfect pets to teach children responsibility and empathy. Most kids, regardless of age, can help feed, bathe, train and exercise a dog. (Be careful not to choose an aggressive breed.) If you want to raise a happy, family-friendly dog, socialization is key. Many vets tell people not to take their dogs out until they have all their shots, when they're around 16 weeks old. However, the critical socialization period is 8 to 14 weeks. So find a happy medium, but use common sense. Avoid dog parks and commercial kennels—the most likely places your pup will come in contact with a disease.

What to consider before you get a pet of your own.

Adding a pet to your family can be very rewarding, but make sure you do your homework and choose the pet that best fits your situation. Consider fostering a few different animals before you make a long-term commitment. Schools, animal shelters and the like are always looking for volunteers.