I am surprised that so many of you think that kids should not have pets.....?

I firmly believe that kids should have pets growing up for many reasons-to learn responsibility, to learn empahty, and compionship, for example. However, I do strongly believe that some pets are not appropriate for younger children. Birds, for example, are not going to want to be held and cuddled in most instances, and due to their body and bone structure, they can be easily killed by well-meaning children. If chosen with care and monitored by adults, pets are the best thing in the world for children.