Child’s first pet

[Soubriquet]

How old were your dc when you allowed them to have their first pet?

Ive just about talked my dh round letting dd have her first pets on her birthday. She will be 10 and wants a pair of mice. Obviously I will still step in and help, but I do expect her to do the bulk.

Ds wants a beardie but I’ve told him he has to wait till he’s 10. He’s 8 this year and not impressed

Anyone?

I think it will depend on how mature kids are and what pet they are. What feels right for you, is right.

When I was younger we had a budgie and then I was 5 when we got a dog. Both family pets though.

I think it really depends

Often I see people buying things like rabbits for their 10-11 year olds with no clue that that will be still alive well after that kid is at uni and likely moved out

Equally shorter lived animals obviously means you'll be dealing with grief quicker

My dd is 6 and we recently got 2 budgies as our first pets.

I would make sure that you are mentally, practically and financially prepared to care for them, regardless what your children tell you they will do.

We had rabbits for 7 years and while DD liked them and wanted them, I knew they would be my responsiblilty, I had rabbits before and knew the work and costs involved.

We had birds when I was a child and while I had to help, my parents did the main work with them.

I got DD guinea pigs when she was 8 (with the expectation of looking after them myself).
Apparently real guinea pigs were not like she expected and I spent the next nearly 7 years looking after them!
It really depends on the kids but I think getting a child a pet is a good thing for many reasons but the care and responsibility really stays with the parent.
Realistically I think that a 10 year old can do a lot towards pet care and understand the need for appropriate care and handling.

Twin nieces. One got a hamster at age 7.... However she was terrified to touch him and has only now (at 11) graduated to having (his successor) in a ball on her lap.

I imagine her parents were trying to get her used to animals - terrified of most - and she does seem now quite invested in/fond of her pet now (if not keen on Auntie Data going on about/inviting her round to see cats, or always keen on dogs in the street).

However I can't imagine she'd have been cleaning out his cage in the circumstances :-)
Her sister - always braver around animals - has this year also got a hamster (her first pet). She is a bit more chore-related anyway (she logged off our Zoom the other week with a world-weary sigh of 'I've got to do the bins') - and imagine she's looking about her one.

Honestly, don’t get a pet with the expectation that kids will do the bulk. They have to be taken on as if the adults will do it all. Children can’t own pets.

Guinea pigs are lovely pets. We have always kept ours indoors with a run outside on the grass when the weather is mild. They are really friendly and make a wheek noise when they get fed or we rustle a bag.

(if you can mentally correct my grammar in my last sentence :-))
Harold (hamster no 1) did manage to die on his owner's birthday. Despite the fear of him, she was very upset. It was really good for her to get used to a pet, and perhaps also to face grief (2 years previously my brother had insisted I tell them a cat they'd met when I was housesitting was now 'living at the vets').

We already have two dogs and a cat.

DD is responsible for feeding the cat every day and she tops up the biscuit bowl and water bowl.

We do everything for the dogs and the little tray for the cat, so she has some experience with caring for animals