A Good Starter
I like gifts that not only make a child think and learn something new, but that also look really nice.
Now if you are and aunt, uncle, grandma or grandpa, it would be better to call the parents first and see that this gift would be welcome in their home.
If they say yes, then this is where I would start:
Fluval 10505 Chi Aquarium, 19 Liter (5 US Gal)
This kind of gift is unusual and can be a gift that keeps on giving for the recipient, long after it is first opened. It is appropriate for children 7 years of age or older and will bring hours of enjoyment and relaxation to anyone who watches. A budding mind will be interested in the ins and outs of keeping an aquarium going and learning about the fish that will inhabit the domain.
Children need to have responsibilities too and this can work to teach them to respect all living creatures. They will have to learn about feeding and caring for another living being and be rewarded with fish that will happily swim for hours on end.
This aquarium in nice and compact, will take up a corner of a dresser or desk and is complete in the box, except for the water and the fish.
Mom and Dad can help with the set up and after that teach the children what needs to be done. Hopefully, the child will have a keen interest in this tank and it will possibly lead to learning more and more about the sea and the fish within. A budding marine biologist, or a budding ecologist could be the result of such a fine gift. Years of learning can accompany this gift with books, stories, visits to the Sea Aquarium and more that can be arranged as the child grows into their role of Fish Keeper. The ultimate objective is to give the child something to think about, outside of their regular routines. Caring for an animal as small as a fish, can make a child realize that we need to share our world. Starting off small is the way to go. In years to come, there could be bigger and more detailed aquariums, or the move from tropical to saltwater aquariums. The list is endless, and the learning is too.
Ultimate Marine Aquariums: Saltwater Dream Systems and How They Are Created
Some books to help you learn all about the keeping of fish…..
Nice pets for children…..
I think this is a great gift for a child, but, as you say, only if they parents agree.
It really is a great way to teach young children some responsibility, without disruption to a whole family…..Fish just naturally don’t live as long as cats and dogs. Plus cats and dogs should never be given as gifts during the craziest time of the year…..Better to wait till after Christmas and then make it a family outing to find that “pet”.