One of the important aspects of getting a pet for your children is that it teaches them a sense of responsibility. The pet needs to be fed and watered every day, and it also needs lots of love

Your child will realise that he or she cannot forget about and neglect Sammy, or Sammy will die. Children also learn that the more that they give to a pet, in time and love, the more they get back in return.

There are a huge variety of suitable pets available for children. Guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, budgies and goldfish make excellent children's pets. They are fairly easy to look after and can be very affectionate in return. Most of the 'small furries' are very responsive to handling and with gentle human contact from an early age, can become very affectionate.

Suggested pets
Goldfish are a very good starting point for becoming a responsible pet owner, but they don't give very much in return.

Hamsters make ideal first pets; they are cheap and easy to look after. They can become very affectionate if bought at a young age and handled frequently and gently. The only downside is that they only live for two years and if handled roughly may give a little nip. They are nocturnal creatures, so unfortunately they're most active when the children are asleep.

Rabbits and guinea pigs make excellent pets. They can be kept indoors or outdoors and need a nice big, warm hutch that is easy to move. They need fresh food and water every day and loads of love. They should be bought at a young age and handled regularly. It's also important that a rabbit should have a secure 'run' outdoors, so that they're not confined to their hutch.

Budgies, canaries and finches make wonderful kitchen pets, as they're cheery and good company. They need to be fed and watered every day and cleaned out weekly. They respond very well if they're spoken to and handled regularly.

Rats, mice, gerbils and chinchillas are also suitable children's pets. They're intelligent and affectionate.

Cats and kittens are fabulous with children; they don't need regular exercise but they do need plenty of love. They give children a wonderful sense of security, of being loved and important if their cat is curled up and asleep at the end of their bed. If you're lucky enough to have an obliging neighbour, then your cat can be left in the comfort of its own environment when you go away. They are quite independent animals and are more suitable than a dog for families that are away during the day.

Dogs are the favourite of all pets, but they do require a lot of time, care and commitment. However, they have heaps of love and affection to give in return and if you carefully select the right breed for you and your family then you'll wonder how you ever survived without one. Children can form very special bonds and receive unconditional love from their dogs. They learn to look after them, develop a sense of responsibility and have great fun.

Pets are very important for children during their formative years. Due thought and consideration should be given to the correct pet for you and your family. Take one step at a time, try getting a goldfish or a hamster and if they're well looked after then you can think about getting a dog or cat.

For more information, please visit www.BabyandKids.co.uk