Teach Kids Responsibility with these Easy-to-Care-For Pets

Help your kid enjoy their natural curiosity for animals with an easy pet. Choose one from this list of low-maintenance pets for young kids.

Young children want to learn about the world around them, and understanding animals and seeing them can be a great way to help them develop this curiosity. Unfortunately, when most kids get pets, the pet becomes the responsibility of the parents much more than the children. If you don’t have a lot of time and energy to commit to high-maintenance pets, you’ll want to consider one from this list.

Get an ant farm for your child

Ants can be a lot of fun for kids to watch and enjoy. An ant farm is typically a self-contained space where these working insects can spend time and tunnel around. It’s fun to see how social these bugs can be while watching them dig tunnels and move things around. You don’t need to take them out to feed them, which makes it easy to enjoy these critters. Eventually, your child might get bored of the ants, which can be let loose in the forest to live out their lives.

A fish tank is a great way to introduce kids to pets

Whether you allow your child to bring home a goldfish or you set up a tank with several types of fish, these aquatic creatures can be a lot of fun to watch and enjoy. Fish are low-maintenance pets that can be great when introducing young kids to animals. You do need to feed fish regularly and clean out the tank on a schedule, but a single goldfish in a small tank doesn’t require as much.

Let your child watch a tortoise or turtle grow

Some kids enjoy turtles and can watch them grow with them. Some turtles live on land and can be easy to care for with a few of the vegetable scraps from your dinner salad and a little water. Some tortoises and turtles live for many years and could be pets that your child has all their lives. This is certainly something to consider when you introduce your child to a turtle as a pet.

Let the cuteness of a chinchilla be part of your home

Chinchillas are small furry creatures that are pretty easy to care for. When you want low-maintenance pets for young children, this little creature is one of the easiest for you and your child to enjoy. Chinchillas don’t require a lot of space but do need to be fed regularly, which means you need to be present when your child feeds this creature. These animals play on a spinning wheel, making them a lot more fun to watch and admire.

Cats are often easy to care for

Unlike dogs, cats don’t require a lot of attention or maintenance to keep them alive and happy. You can spend time petting a cat, but you can also leave them alone all day long, and they’ll be fine. You won’t need to walk or bathe a cat like you would a dog. All that’s required is a litter box, a few toys, and nourishment to keep cats happy and alive. Get your young child a cat and help them learn to care for it.

Your child might enjoy a hermit crab

Hermit crabs are clean, only need to be fed regularly, and can be an easy pet for you and your child to care for. These little crabs move from house to house as they grow, which makes picking a small one a great way to watch as this critter changes its shell. Hermit crabs are some of the best low-maintenance pets for young children, but they can’t be pet or interacted with much, which might be frustrating for your child.

Guinea pigs are a great option

If you want a fluffy, cute, and chubby animal for your child to love, a guinea pig is a great option. These critters don’t require a lot of attention and can live on carrots, grains, and some hay. They can get a bit overweight because kids tend to feed them too much. This pet is a great way to teach your kids about feeding only as much as necessary. Guinea pigs aren’t the most active animals you can have, but they are cute, cuddly, and can be a lot of fun for your child.

Which of these seven low-maintenance pets for young children will you bring home and enjoy?