How to Choose a Pet for Your Child

When you help your child choose a pet, you are helping him or her take a big step toward learning responsibility. In addition to that, not all children understand the difficulty involved with some animals, and therefore they sorely need their parents' input to choose a pet.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Consider the available space you have at home. Whether the pet you choose will be an indoor pet or an outside pet, you still need to choose the pet that will function best in the amount of space provided. Good luck explaining to your 6 year old why he can't have a Great Dane puppy in your apartment though.

2. Evaluate the costs. If you choose a dog, you'll need to consider the cost of shots, dog food, a leash, etc. If you choose a hamster you'll need to buy food, a cage, an exercise ball, cedar shavings...the list goes on. Some pets are more expensive than others. Be sure to choose a pet you can afford.

3. Take the child's age into consideration. Your child may want a pet badly, but may be too young to play with some types of pets without inadvertently hurting or killing them. In addition, some pets may accidentally hurt a small child. Choose wisely.

4. Think about your child's likes and dislikes. Does he or she like to play outdoors, or prefer to be inside? An active child may want a dog while an indoor child may prefer a house cat.

5. Watch for allergies. If your child has shown any previous allergy symptoms around certain animals do not take the risk of bringing those animals into your home as pets!

6. Be considerate to other family members. If your child wants a dog, but your spouse hates dogs, you cannot appease your child only to end up upsetting your spouse. Let choosing a pet be a family affair and compromise.