How to Teach a Child to Care for Rodents

Rodents make appropriate first pets for children. They are small and cute and children enjoy having a small pet in a cage that can live in their bedrooms. A child can be taught to care for a pet rodent and will often appreciate the opportunity to take responsibility for a living creature. An adult must supervise the caretaking, as children may forget to feed or water a small animal.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Have the child participate in selecting a cage for a pet rodent and discuss the merits of various cages while shopping for the right one. Choose a cage for your pet rodent that is small and easy to clean. A cage with a lid that removes easily and allows ready access to the animal's food and water dishes works well.

2. Show the child how to open the cage and close it, making sure she knows how to latch it properly so that the animal can't escape.

3. Teach the child how to clean the cage. Have the child gently remove the animal from the cage and place it in a small box during cage-cleaning time. Help him empty the cage of its bedding (wood shavings, shredded newspaper or other soft, absorbent material). Show him how to spray the inside of the cage with a mild solution of vinegar and water and wipe it dry with paper towels. Depending upon the child's age and manual dexterity, you may need to assist in the cleaning steps. Let the child place clean bedding material in the bottom of the cage and bring the animal back to the cage.

4. Ask the child to remove the animal's food and water dishes from the cage. Show the child how much food the animal should get at each feeding and help her fill the bowl, if she needs assistance. Remind her to keep an eye on the animal's water supply, as it may need to be refilled more than once each day.

5. Talk to the child about how fragile the animal is. Whether your pet is a mouse, a hamster, a guinea pig or other type of rodent, tell the child that it is a small, delicate creature and requires gentle handling. You may need to supervise the child when he has the animal out of the cage, depending upon the child's age and level of maturity. Suggest to the child that he may want to handle the animal daily, to help it get used to being around people.

6. Advise the child to watch her pet closely every day to look for any possible changes in health or well being. Look into veterinary care if the animal seems unwell.

7. Ask the child often how his pet rodent is doing, what he has eaten today and whether he's been active in his cage. Asking such questions on a regular basis trains the child to think frequently about his pet and its needs.

Tips & Warnings

• Think of the pet rodent as a member of the family and encourage the child to think of it that way, too. Caring for a small animal can develop an attitude of caring for others in a child and can teach him how to care for other animals and human beings down the road.
• No matter how responsible and enthusiastic the child may seem to be about caring for her pet rodent, don't let a day go by when you don't check on the pet yourself. Even the most caring and conscientious child can sometimes be forgetful and children often lose interest in caring for a pet, so an adult must always be the backup caretaker for a pet rodent. Be sure that you are willing to care for this pet if the child loses interest.

Resources

• Caring for animals
• Selecting and caring for a pet rodent