Hamsters are often considered to be ideal first pets for children. This is because their small size can seem less intimidating to children than larger pets like dogs. Syrian hamsters, the largest of the pet breeds, are used as class pets in some schools because they tolerate handling fairly well and are relatively easy to care for.
The smaller breeds of pet hamsters (like Campbell's dwarf, winter white Russian dwarf and Roborovski) are not recommended as pets for young children for several reasons. Because they are so small, they are more timid, nervous and active than the larger Syrian hamsters. So they are harder to handle and more likely to fall or jump out of a child's hand and get injured. Even worse, they are very fast, so if they escape, they can be attacked by a larger pet (like a cat or dog), be stepped on or get lost in the house and start gnawing on furniture or electrical wiring (which is dangerous for them and for everyone else in the family).
Dwarf hamsters have such small and delicate bones that they can be easily broken or fractured if handled too roughly, or if they fall from heights more than a few inches. And if they are held too tightly, their bones can break, and nerves and internal organs can be damaged. Young children under the age of about 5 years do not have fully developed fine motor skills or reflexes, so they do not have good control of how hard they squeeze or the ability to quickly catch a falling object. So hamster experts advise against letting young children handle the small dwarf hamster breeds without adult supervision.
When a hamster is introduced into the home as a pet, it is important for the parents to teach the children about its proper care and handling. Children need to be taught to relate to the hamster as a living creature with needs and feelings. Children often want to pet and handle the hamster long beyond the point where the hamster is comfortable. So the parents should supervise their children's interaction with the hamster for a few weeks, to teach the children how to handle the hamster safely and to make sure they do not stress the hamster to the point where it starts to bite.
If the kids are supposed to be in charge of feeding the pet and maintaining its cage, parents need to ensure that this is being done on a regular basis. If the children are not holding up their end of the chores, parents need to step in and make sure that the pet is cared for. Sometimes children are still too young for this kind of responsibility, so parents need to be prepared to care for the pet until the kids are old enough to be consistent and reliable with their chores.
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