Apparently many small pets are unsuitable for kids as they carry salmonella and other germs or so the experts would have us believe. The thing is most of us had pets and all of us have survived, probably cos our Mums and Dads reminded us to wash our hands after playing with the pets before we ate. A simple but effective counter measure. I think it is good for kids to have pets it teaches them responsibility and as the average small rodent lives about 3-10 years it helps them to come to terms with bereavement and stuff like that. Also sometimes kids confide in their pets. My friend only found out her daughter was being bullied at school cos she overheard her telling the guinea pig. She told the pet cos the bullys said they would get her if she told her parents but she knew it was safe to tell the pet cos it couldn't speak.
The thing is playing outside is full of germs (and sunshine) too but fresh air and excercise is good for kids and outdoors is fun and can be enjoyed safely if a modicum of common sense is applied to the situation.
Presumably it is the same so called experts that I read about who feel kids should be taken into care if they are too fat or too thin. Honestly whatever next. OK if there is an extreme example maybe it might be a good idea to look into the reasons,adn sadly there is no getting away from the fact that some people mistreat or neglect children but they are a minority. The thing is children like adult people are all different shapes and sizes with different metabolisms and some kids are picky eaters. Some kids like active games and sports and some are clumsy or naturally sedentary and therefore more likely to have a weight problem it is not a sign that there parents are neglecting them. I was a picky kid and very active and so therefore skinny. I hated food and found meal times boring till I was about 13, but my parents were not negligent, they spent hours trying to encourage me to eat (if only I still hated it now 
). Some kids have eating disorders because they are anxious or unhappy, how much worse will it be if they also fear the possibility that they might be taken from their loving parents and put into care. Get a grip people please.
Rant over.
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