How to Support Your Child in Their Rat Ownership
Before You Bring Your Rats Home - The Research Phase
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Involving your child in the research period is fantastic for teaching research skills and having the child demonstrate commitment and responsibility for their future new pets. It's also a great way to foster their excitement in a positive way, giving them an outlet until their new additions arrive. You should encourage them to do as much research as they can, but also do your own research so that you have a solid understanding of rat care yourself, and so you can fact-check any information your child presents to you.
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It can be a bit of a minefield when searching for resources, so I would suggest providing a series of sources for your child to investigate. I hope this website is helpful, but I would also suggest:
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Pet Rat Care by Zoe Lumour. This is the only book that I recommend, and it is available through Amazon and on Kindle.
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Azuline Rattery website. Again, a source from Zoe, but there are a range of articles available.
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Isamu Rats YouTube. Jemma's videos are more factual in their nature, but she has a warm personality which makes her videos engaging.
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Emiology YouTube. Admittedly, I don't watch Emi's videos, but I have heard good things and I've enjoyed the odd videos that I've watched. One of her videos was inspired by a lockdown rat challenge I did!
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Rat Care UK on Facebook. I would be cautious of facebook groups in general as they can be a bit volatile at times, but RCUK is a great resource to search through and ask any follow up questions.
Before You Bring Your Rats Home - Finding Rats & Managing Expectations
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It is very important to manage your child's expectations and lead by example. It is very unlikely that you will be able to obtain rats within a short time frame, and you could be waiting for months before any are available. Ultimately, pets are a privilege, not a right, and this is a perfect way to teach your children patience and to put their prospective pets' welfare over their own wants. Responsible ownership includes responsible sourcing!
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If you would like to bring home rats sooner, you will need to consider expanding your search radius and therefore travel times to different breeders and rescues. Involve your child in this process too. Start with the NFRS Breeders List and look into each breeder, or google/ask online for different rescues and see if there are any who will fit in with your family.
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Sometimes face-to-face interactions are helpful! You could bring your child to a rat show to meet some rats and rat owners. Have a look at the NFRS website for the show calendar, or search for local clubs (for example, Midlands Rat Club, North of England Rat Society, London & Southern Counties Mouse & Rat Club and Peninsula Rat Club).
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Where there are multiple children/family members, I would recommend against having individual rats "assigned" to specific individuals, and would instead recommend that there is joint ownership over a group. This way there are no hard feelings if a rat doesn't 100% gel with "their" child, nor is there any resentment if their rat passes away first.
Bringing Your Rats Home - Bonding & Handling
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Handling can be tricky for those unaccustomed to small pets, even in adults! It helps when the adult is competent and can be there for backup, though.
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When you collect your rats, ask for handling tips and tricks, and have a go! Start with whatever makes your child and the rats more comfortable and confident. It's worth bearing in mind that the rats may be a bit more nervous than usual at the start, and this is normal as it's a new experience for them and they can sometimes pick up on your nerves. The following can help your child with handling:
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Explain! They should pick them up under their arms or by scooping them. They should be firm, but relaxed, then place the rat on their shoulder, chest, or in their arms, keeping the rat close to their body so they feel secure. You can practice without the rat so they know how to hold themselves.
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Demonstrate! Pick the rat up yourself and show them how to handle them. If you don't get it right the first time, ask the breeder/rescue to show and guide you. Watching you take on feedback and make progress can be a good thing for your child to see.
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Practice! Keep handling sessions calm, and end on a positive note each time for them and the rat where possible.
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Adapt! Not all children are naturals at the start, and simply picking them up and having them on their chest/in their arms doesn't suit every child (or rat!). Some other options include sitting in the bathtub together with a towel down and a couple of rat toys, wearing a dressing gown (they can also wear their dressing gown backwards if they want their hood in front of them to put the rat in), having playpen time together with their cage inside it, or the desensitisation method in their setup.
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Help! If you notice that a rat needs a bit of extra input, help your child by putting aside some time to work with the rats.
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Be understanding! Sometimes progress isn't linear and it can take time to find what works for everyone involved.
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Build a bond! Don't chase them around the cage once you get home as this creates a negative association with handling. Give them treats (preferably ones they have to lick), talk to them, give them time to get used to their new surroundings, sights, sounds and smells.
Caring for Your Rats - Responsibility & Healthcare
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Depending on your child's age and competence, they may be able to be responsible for much of the rats' care. You should always make a note of checking on the rats yourself to ensure that water bottles haven't been forgotten, the rats are a good weight (to check for under- and over-feeding), and that they are in good health. It's also worth bearing in mind that ultimately children can and do lose interest in their pets, which is why you should never take on any pet that you do not want yourself and wouldn't be willing to take over care of.
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You should invest time into understanding how to health check your rats along with common illnesses and their signs. You should have a vet fund in place, and be prepared to be the one to make decisions.
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Spending time with your children and rats can be great family bonding time, especially if you can share funny moments together. Rats are very social animals and make great family members, so soak up the time you all have together! The biggest piece of advice that I can give parents is to enjoy the experience.