What Animals Are Good for Kids 10 & Up?

By the age of 10, most children are ready to begin taking on additional responsibilities. This is why many parents start to think about getting a pet for their child to take care of. Ideally, it's good to start out with a pet that is relatively easy to care for, such as a fish, and then gradually move up to one that needs more care.

  1. Fish

    • Fantail goldfish are relatively inexpensive pets.

      Fish are probably the easiest animals to care for. Betta fish or goldfish may be the best ones to start with because they live in a small bowl and need to be fed once or twice a day. Their bowl should be cleaned once every one to two weeks, so bacteria doesn't build up in the bowl. They don't need anything special and the food they eat is quite inexpensive, so not much money is spent on them after the initial aquarium set-up needs.

    Hermit crabs

    • Hermit crabs are pretty self-sufficient and don't need much help from humans.

      Hermit crabs are another excellent choice for a first pet. They are hypoallergenic, so for a child with allergies they are a great option. As far as food goes, hermit crabs can eat 3 to 4 times per week and eat many of the same things we humans eat. Because they are social animals, it's a good idea to have a least 2 crabs in the same tank, so they can entertain each other.

    Guinea Pigs

    • Guinea pigs learn to enjoy everyday schedules.

      Guinea Pigs are a great pet option for children. They are much heavier than mice and hamsters, which means they aren't as likely to get hurt if mishandled. They are able to be structured onto a schedule with repetition, so encourage the child to feed and handle the guinea pig at roughly the same time each day. The more the guinea pig gets used to being handled, the less likely he will accidentally bite little fingers. And since they only live around 3 to 4 years, there isn't a huge time commitment.

    Dogs

    • There's a reason dogs are called man's best friend.

      There are many different breeds of dogs out there, which is why it's important to research the differences in the breeds to make sure the breed is child-friendly. Dogs are much more time consuming because they need to be fed and given water each day, they need exercise, and they need to be brushed. A child at 10 years old is more than able to take care of a dog, but they need to be aware that the animal is solely their responsibility.