A “small pet” can be a wonderful way for kids to learn empathy and responsibility—but it can also become a stressful, short-lived experiment if expectations don’t match reality. Many small animals don’t like being handled, some are nocturnal, and most require more cleaning, space, and vet plann...
When a family in the US or Europe gets a pet, parents often hope it will teach their children kindness, responsibility and empathy. That can absolutely happen – but only if adults guide kids carefully. Without guidance, children may accidentally scare, hurt or stress animals, even when they “love...