A bird is a good easy first pet
If youâre set on a pet, cats are probably the âeasiestâ care wise.
Someone else said plants, and I think thatâs a fantastic idea. Get a needy plant that needs watered daily, or every other day, and make sure theyâre on a good schedule with taking care of plant babe. Once plant babes are happy, pets will probs have a better chance of being happIEST and most fullfiled, and so will the littles taking care of them.
Guinea Pig-they are nice and easy to take care of (stay away from mice and hamsters-they are very mean)
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We rescued a 2.5year old cat when my son was 3years old. I know you said no cat yet, but my son wanted it so bad. So of course I got one and still to this day (hes almost 5) he makes sure she has food, water, few treats and plays with her everyday. Heâs done so much better than I thought he would. Heâs proven himself beyond what I thought. (I thought heâd get tired of it after a while) but he absolutely loves the responsibility. I still clean the litter box but when hes older that will be his job as well. If you get some other kind of pet, think about how long it will live. Like a turtle, those can live forever. Lol
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Guinea pigs are awesome!! They can be litter trained (easy to research on how to train them). They can be kept in a cage or can be free roaming (once litter trained). They eat veggies, hay, and pellets, and they are very sweet and cuddly once they get used to you. Getting two is a good idea so they donât get lonely. But you can have just one if you are willing to give it daily attention and love. I highly recommend for kids ages 4 and up!
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Not to b âthat personâ but I used to breed ball pythons (snakes) they eat only once a week and as long as temperatures r good and they have water theyâre a pretty low maintenance pet. They dont care if u dont âplayâ with them for a day or 2. As with ANY pet, do ur research and make sure ur prepared and know what ur getting into. Even some breeds of dogs can b more high maintenance than others.
Guinea pigs are very cute but have a short life span,
Best pet yet was a worm
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Oh and our pretend goldfish that is already severely neglected 
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Start with an easy to care for plant and if they cant keep that alive make a point and say ya if that was an animal it would have suffered. I did that with my daughter. Now she feeds the 2 dogs, 4 cats, and use to feed the snakes but she isnt too into them. But the dogs and cats they are good and she understands responsibility very well
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T-Rex, they are really cute when they are little.
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Mine will be getting a rock. 
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I would get some goldfish cuz you definitely have to clean out their water you definitely have to feed them so it gives you a responsibility of you doing it
My first pet was a rat and then I got a budgie
Hamsters allll day! If you get them as a baby or juvenile and handle them frequently they really do become amazing little companions. This is my nine year old with her hamster Rhino and heâs the sweetest! I wouldnât get a dwarf hamster theyâre way smaller and really easy to disappear. We got a long haired Syrian hamster and heâs just perfect and super cute.
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A small goat! They love to play and donât require a crazy amount of care. If you can get a goat where you live, I recommend it. Theyâre amazing pets. Just make sure you have a good vet that will take the goat on lol and that you learn to clip their hooves or the vet can do it for you. Other than that theyâre pretty dang easy. I recommend getting two though because they get lonely and depressed by themselves. If you get two then youâre set. (Also clipping hooves is pretty easy! For me itâs easier then clipping my kids nails or our dogs nails!)
Bunnies make great pets. and you can litterbox train them. if you choose to get a bunny, a REX is a good choice, Iâ:rabbit:âve had bunnies for years and i let them run around the house (being litterbox trained, they will go to the box to potty and then resume investigating or playing. 
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A country girl has it best; had horse, pigs, cows and calves, chickens, rabbits, cats, dogs, and a turtle. Most ran free and had long lives, i was taught if i wanted a pet that i took care of it and I did ! The worst thing you can do is for parents to take care of pet! Its a learning responsibility; you want a car, you take care of it; you want a baby, you take care of it; you want a pet, you take care of it !
Rats are spectacular. They learn their names, they learn some commands and they are as bright as a button! It also teaches kids that animals are not horrid, vile or dangerous, and those that are have probably been abused by humans. Teaching them to be kind is good work.
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Fish tank and an assortment of fresh water fish.easy to maintain, lots to learn about life cycle of different fish and breading habbits.They can be calming in stressfull times
A cat! Go to the shelter, find a young-ish love bug, and all they need is a litter box, food, water, a nice window to lay in, a box to play in, and plenty of affection! Way easier than any of the small rodents, cheaper than a fish (fish tanks and filter systems get pricy,) and the best kitty litter is the cheap clay one and then you just add baking soda!
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Lord these are answers are scary. All animals have needs. People saying hamster and rabbits. They need so much space and stuff. Not just put them in a cage that are way to small from pet shops and give them food and water. I say whatever animal the parents are ready for and then you help teach the children how to take care of an animals needs.
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Hermit crab was our first pets growing up. Not overly needy but fun to watch and let crawl on the floor but teaches good responsibility
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Guinea pugs are good first pets.
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Volunteer at your local shelter a couple of times a week. Let your children experience the responsibility and maybe the perfect pet could just fall into your lap.
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Believe it or not, rats make wonderful pets. If you read up about them on google you can judge for yourself. Get a little female and allow your child to bond with it, by having contact with it. Theyâre very clean providing you keep the cage clean. Keep their claws trimmed and you have yourself a gorgeous pet.
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I think a kitten is. Great pet They are low maintenance, all you have to do is fed them and clean the litter box. They are great fun for the kids to play with
I would say a catâŚfrom a rescue preferably.
Cats need food, water and lots of loving.
Theyâre not too expensive to keep either.
PlusâŚ. Theyâre cuddly but can also be aloof and so not demand too much attention.
If you let them be indoor and outdoor cats you wonât need a litter tray after a while
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Honestly no pet is a good first pet cause kids lose interest. If you want a pet thats great you decide what kind of pet you want and go from there.
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Please, You be ready to make a commitment for the pets lifetime.
A lot of children are excited at first but quickly lose interest.
Just sayinâ
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I love guinea pigs, fairly easy to care for, anything takes effort, friendly, interactive, they talk to you and after years of doing 4h and dealing with many I have never seen an aggressive oneâŚ
Mine was a guinea pig⌠but only get one if youâre gonna let it out of the cage and to run around the room and whatnot.
Otherwise, I also had hamsters, lizards, hermit crabs, fish, rats and then obviously a dog/cat.
Donât get bunnies. Itâs not a pet, and quite frankly, they are alot of work. Once they are tamed you just cannot let them go in the wild. Itâs inhumane. Get a fish, hamster, guinea pig, rat.
Rats are amazing pets.
So clever and clean.
Not a hamster as they sleep all day and run on wheel at night keeping everyone awakeđ¤Ł
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Rabbits are quite hard and do need a lot of care Guinea pigs are wonderful two are the best to have company they are very friendly love to be cuddled and have there own little ways of talking nice cage with toys there dried food and they love kale cabbage green beans carrots celery donât give lettuce but love cucumber best of luck
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My opinion as someone who grew up with farm animals,dogs, cats and etc. The best way to learn children how to take care of animals is by exsmple.If they want to take care of a animal of any kind they will follow a example. I think if they havenât been around animals itâs probably because they havenât had a chance .You can watch and tell if they have the interest in them.
Maybe you should take them to a shelter a couple times a month to volunteer, walking dogs, cleaning kennelsâŚlet them see what all goes into having a petâŚ
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A kitten/cat
I know you said no cats, but with cats you just need to have fresh water, feed them once a day and keep the litter box clean. The kids can scoop it daily and then clean it real good once a week.
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When my oldest was 5 she wanted her own pet. We agreed on something small like a hamster or a gerbil. I explained to her that the only things I would help her with was cleaning the cage and filling the water bottle. She agreed and got her sweet little gerbil, Kipper. She used her own birthday money for everything he would ever need and was a very good gerbil mom. 
Whatever you decide to get, please get from a reputable breeder or shelter so you know they are healthy. Pet shops and big box stores are notorious for selling animals with undiagnosed or undisclosed illness, often due to over crowded cages or poor care.
It depends on how your children take responsibility for their belongings. Say you get a kitten, they will have to change the litter box, cute/fun at 1st then who will be stuck doing it later?
A puppy, is fun and playful, but then video games, other kids boy/girl friends happen, how sad will the puppy who is now a DOG gonna feel?
Try baby steps, volunteer at a local animal shelter, see how your children adapt and dedications to the responsibilities. An animal will ADOPT your children!!
Good luck!!
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My mother in law had a cat, it was evil.the last one to go to bed would get attacked! His name was Max, I called it Satan
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First pet I would say a pet rock
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Personally, I think a guinea pig. I got my kids a hamster first, but we got lucky with our hamsters and they didnât bite. But they do and will get out. And they donât really get attached to you.
A guniea pig gets attached, they really do have individual personalities, and they like their cage. You actually need a little house in the cage because they like the security. They donât spend their lives trying to figure out how to get loose like a hamster does. Pretty easy to take care of. And you can go out of town for a couple days (like a long weekend) and they will be fine. More than that, and youâd need a friend to stop by and refresh food and water.
We use to close off the bathroom and let ours run around and play.
They can live 5 - 8 years, compared to a hamster that only lives 2. Not sure if thatâs a plus or a minus. 
If I had known more about guinea pigs, I would have started with them as a pet.
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A cockateal bird. Can
be taught to talk âŚtake showers and blow dry you can even have it eat at the dinner table with you. Keep wings clipped and can go anywere with youâŚwonderful pet .please get from a breeder
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Small reptile or fish is easier to take care of then a rodent. Rodents need more attention and bedding changed more often so if you wanna take baby steps towards a dog or cat start reptile 
then rodent then dog or cat.
We had African dwarf frogs in self contained aquarium. They lived 4 years, never grew larger than thumb nail. Easy maintenance, just clean, change water every few weeks, feed flaked food from pet store.
Lizards are amazing especially if you get them little and the kids learn how to hand feed them. Very minimal clean up but it is a responsibility
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Hamster 
Edited
Get a very simple cage. Do not get any habitrail tubes. (Tubes are harder to clean and they get smelly ). Buy a silent wheel or running saucer.
We raise Continental Giant rabbits and they are THE BEST I wouldnât recommend them for super small kids due to their size as far as trying to pick them up ect. But their great house pets (after you bunny proof of corse) 
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Sorry, my suggestion is a dog, other animals besides a cat are boring and they would loose interest.
A fish maybe though cats r easy to care for. Easily liter box trained n not as needy as a dog taking em in n out to potty. Theyâre also easier to leave home longer periods of time vs a dog.
I would go for something that is self contain such as a hamster, budgie, fish, or turtle. If your child is reading well, get them a starter kit, it has the animal, cage, book of instructions, feed and other things in one. Ask at the pet store about getting first pet. As every child is different so is their pet choices.
No animal is a beginner pet. All animals take more time and energy than people think and no animal should be used as a test subject to see if your kids are responsible enough to take care of an animal. Buy them toy animals instead.
A kittyâŚTeach child that they have to treat it kind.Care for it.Love and cuddle and pet it.Chores to do like cleaning liter box everyday.
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Hamster or tortoise. Lizards are easy too. We have a gecko and the kids can hold him.
Turtle or gerbil. Gerbils are good natured usually do not bite. And if you get a mating pairâŚno worries about separating. Daddy helps take care of babies. Even ist generation babies helps care for 2nd generation babies. A true family affair.
Fish or some type of hamster. Bunnies are a lot of work and can scratch.
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Cats are best. Minimal amounts of workâŚ
My daughters love their bearded dragons. Otherwise, Iâd say a kitten.
guinea pig. They are gentle, large enough to carry, probably wonât do a lot of escaping (unless you get a young one) They DO try to hide in dark places, and summer time feeding can be nearly free with enough grass!
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We started my grandson off with goldfish , it lived a year
Guinea pigs are the best pet for a younger child as they will just sit on your lap, but they do need space to run.
Please donât get a Guinea pig or a rabbit unless you are able to let them have space to run and jump.
Rabbits will also chew your wires, walls and skirting board or anything wood especially if board they also need vaccinations and regular health checks.
If you do get Guinea pigs or rabbits plz also remember they live better in pairs or more
Rabbit food is cheaper than dog and cat food. No shots from a vet are required for their care.
Bunnies are also wonderful pets with different personalities, soft and cuddly, and youâre not bark.
Guinea pigs are brilliant first pets they can have an indoor cage or an outside hutch so easy to handle and very sociable but you need 2 they do not thrive on their own
I have had them all. Changing cages is the bain of my existence. No guinea pigs, rabbits or especially rats if you donât want to be constantly changing the cage. Hamster, gecko, something that doesnât poop or pee a ton is good.
Fish tankâŚ,teaches them to look after fish,tank and feedâŚ
We have had hamsters, cats, dogs, budgies, a bunny, fish and rats. Honestly, itâs up the home. We have found that cats were not a good fit for our house. Hamsters bite and arenât very friendly (we only had one that kinda was out of 4) dogs or course win our heart (rescues have been my fave) my beta are SUPER low maintenance. We lucked out with the sweetest bunny in the world, and our rats are the COOLEST pets. Theyâre fun and funny and LOVE human interaction. Theyâre so smart and are easily trained. You change their cage and new fluff to keep any smell down (less than a cat) and theyâre the absolute sweetest. I have NEVER been bit by a rat. Females are our fave. Budgies are also super low maintenance. We donât handle ours, so really they just hang out in their big cage and look and sound pretty. DO. NOT. SCRIMP. ON. SMALL. CAGES. Whatever you DO get, always have lots of space and toys for interaction when you arenât around. 
Gold fish was my daughters first pet.
As long as you are willing to care for the pet as you will end up having the job. I know for a fact.
I did fish just to show that you have to have Responsibility or they will die
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A middle size dog. Is it going to be a house pet or outside? How old is you child?
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a cat is good, just vaccination and neutering cost up front and should be good to go.
I think you can rule out Rattle Snakes, Alligators and Scorpions !
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Guinea Pigs make great first pets to learn responsibility. We had one.
Guinea pig, hamster or maybe a rabbit. Unfortunately they all require a cage & are rather dirty.
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Not a Guinea pig. Theyâre way too much work and requiring a lot of food and attention and are too delicate.
Hamster⌠Just one if itâs a Syrian hamster, I believe you can have multiple dwarf hamsters⌠Syrians will kill each other⌠Also, you are better off only having one dwarf because itâs hard to tell when theyâre young what their gender is, and you donât want to end up with litters of them!!!
Going to sound strange, but my kids had rats as pets. The required care but not a lot, donât take up much room, donât bite, social and trainable.
Get them a cat or a dog. At least they wonât end up getting wet tail like a hamster would.
Get them an aquarium with a fish
Birds, fish if they are young. If they are older hamsters, guinea pig, or bunny.
A cat you can litter train on the toilet which makes it a lot easier than the box
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A fish or a hamster they were the first pets my pearents got me
Taxidermy is quite good
I had beta fishes. One was blue and one was pink. There was a divider in the tank. One day one jumped over the divider and killed the other. I suggest only one.
Two Guinea pigs 
great for children
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Something you enjoy taking care of because thatâs what youâll be doing.
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Snapping turtle?? J/kâŚmy first was a rabbittâŚalot of workâŚstick with fishâŚ
Komodo dragon or Burmese python
Bearded dragon or guinea pig
I think Parakeets. They are easy trainable
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A guinea pig. They are easy and more durable than a hamster
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Fish are good first pets
We have gerbils 
they are very easy and we all love them!
A female rat. Amazing pets!
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My first pet was a fish.
Chinchilla ⌠super sweet, super clean and easy to care for!
We have a Russian Tortoise
We love her.
Easy to care for and fun