CLOSED:What animal makes the best pet and why? Win a bundle of kids books.

Guinea pigs are dear little things. Have 2 and they will keep each other company (check sex first!) They can live indoors and should not be consigned to the bottom of the garden, but the patio is fine as long as you don't ignore them and protect them from the elements. They like being handled and played with and will "chatter" to you especially at meal times!
Oh and they live a lot longer than hamsters.
We had Tobermory (Toby) and Wellington (Welly) because my DDs decided they were Wombles. Super pets!??

The lack of an apostrophe and the fact that the word books appeared on a new line in my Active page listing meant I read the second part as: "Win a bundle of kids".

My first thought? "WTF?"

Need more information. Is the family athletic or couch potatoes? Any allergies? What size garden? What experience do the parents have?

Would suggest a visit to a 'pet zoo' so that the children can handle some pets. No good getting a hamster if a child will not pick one up or a dog if the child is scared.

Personally I will not have anything that has to be kept in a cage, think this is cruel. So a cat or dog is my answer.

Rats make good pets and are ideal as a first time pet as they are easy to care for and easy to train...

A really nice fossil ammonite.
Minimal maintenance and cheap to keep.
Doesn't require much exercise, just an occasional change of location is sufficient.
Very little noise from them I've noticed and they don't bite the postman or annoy the neighbors.

Goldfish are the easiest to look after, and so many types of aquariums, to fit any budget.The next step up is a hamster or gerbil, gerbils are social creatures, you need to have two, but hamsters are happier alone.

I think hamsters are a good pet to start with. Children can learn how to look after and handle them. A good pet for a child who lives in a flat too.

I have never known a time when there has not been a dog in my life. Right from being a tiny child myself to the grandmother of one now, there has always been a four legged friend around. I really can't imagine living without one. Our house is a home. A proper home has a dog ( or two or three) in it

My dogs greet me every morning bursting with so much love and affection, tails wagging and bodies wriggling, they make me smile even when don't feel like it.

If I'm sad one of them will come for a cuddle. When I was a little girl the dog in our house was always my best friend. I would share my sweets with him and if I was crying he always came and sat with me.

They are your friend, your confessor, your comfort. They bring joy to your heart, and they break it when they die. They seem to know when you are sad, and when you are happy they add to the fun.

Walking the dog gets you out of the house, and you meet other doggie owners who are equally as besotted and daft. Dogs make people smile, they bring us together in a way nobody else can ..that is through laughter.

And anyway, who needs a man when you have a dog ?

LOL

Dogs. Always cheerful and happy to see you. Love an afternoon nap. Forces you to go for a walk to get some exercise.

Cats are a wonderful pet for a child I know it may seem a bit ordinary but I think a child needs something that is easy to care for food, water and a loving home is all they need and if the right cat is picked it can become a child's best friend. They love attention and will allow themselves to be petted and stroked when a child needs quiet time and be very playful and boisterous too. They have the ability to adapt to the childs mood.
I just think they are ideal. They don't need cleaning out or walking which I know from experience a child can lose the enthusiasm for very quickly with a pet and the parent ends up doing the looking after.

Ants (yes that's right, Ants) An ant colony can teach children a lot about how a community that works together for the common good can thrive, and how each member of that society has his place. Ants need very little care, just a dry, stable temperature and some food. They are fascinating.