Road trip! Packing up all the kids and pets can be very stressful in itself. Add on the responsibility of caring for all of them and it can get pretty overwhelming. Can your kids help care for the pets during a road trip? More to the point, can they do it all? As a veteran mom and pet owner, I know firsthand it can be done. However, there are many factors to consider first. Some of the main ones include travel method, pet size, ownership control, and responsibility levels.

How are the pets traveling? If the pet is traveling inside a cage or carrier, it may be easier for the kids to care for the than if they are traveling another way. Pets can get agitated during traveling. Usually, this behavior will occur in cats or dogs. Those contained inside a carrier may be easier to control. Small animals, like hamsters, guinea pigs, and rabbits should be traveling in a cage. They cannot run loose around the vehicle. Not only will they be harder for kids to handle that way. But they will also not be safe at all.

What size are the pets? Larger pets are better cared for by the adults during a road trip. This is because you never know what an animal will do when frightened or agitated. Your pet may be perfectly fine and not have any reaction at all. Then again, exactly the opposite can happen and you don't want your child to be on the end of that. Large animals should be secured safely in the proper travel restraint. Small animals are likely to be in their cages. Therefore, they are not likely to be a direct threat to your child.

Can your child calm the pets? If the pets are easily soothed by your child, it may be a good idea to have them somewhat near your child on the trip. Again, consider safety. But as long as your child and the pet are safe, there is no harm in your child using soothing words to ease the pet's fears. A cat or dog may be easily calmed by hearing your child's voice or by your child petting his fur.

Who's in charge? The kids or the pets? This is very important. Does your dog or your child normally run the show? If it's the latter, it will be very difficult to calm and care for a pet during travel. In this case, this is not a responsibility for your kids to take on. On the other hand, if your child is very good at controlling the animal's behavior, safety may not be an issue in that area. In that case, it may actually be a good thing for your child to care for the animals during the trip.

Is your child really responsible enough for this duty? Road trips are stressful for kids as it is. Some kids can handle the extra added responsibility of one or more animals. But others would be better off leaving that up to the parents. Pet care during a road trip can be a great lesson in responsibility. But it's only a good idea if you know that your child will be a positive influence on the animal's behavior, as well as tend to their basic needs. While parents are focused on the road, kids with this task will be checking on the pet's water, food, waste elimination, and other needs. If your child already handles these kind of duties at home, it will be easier to catch on to proper procedures during road trips.

*This advice is based on the author's personal experiences and is not meant to replace that of your veterinarian or pediatrician. Always ask licensed animal care specialist about your pet's specific needs. Always contact a licensed pediatrician about your child's health and care.

"Awww, mommy can I hold her? Please?" Hamsters are small and fragile. But they are also extremely cute and cuddly -- if you know how to hold them correctly. Helping kids learn how to hold a hamster for the first time is both fun and a chore. As a mom to kids who have adopted several hamsters in need, I've had plenty of experience in this area.

Hold the hamster yourself. Before you let the kids hold a hamster, you need to display the proper way to hold her by doing so yourself. The visual cue will make it easier for your child to see what the proper holding method is. Point out what you are doing with each step. For instance, you might say "I'm letting her crawl in my hand, not grabbing her" or "When I hold her, I don't squeeze too hard because she might get hurt."

Have your child wear gardening gloves at first. This will protect his hands in case the hamster decides to nip a little. While hamster bites are not always painful, the action of the bite can startle a child into letting go of the hamster. Therefore the gloves are safer for both the hamster and the child. The reason gardening gloves are a good choice is because of the canvas fabric. Hamsters may get their little claws stuck in wool and other more porous materials. Their nails can be clipped but it's not ideal since they are so small. If you must have them clipped, leave the job to a licensed veterinary expert. Even with clipped nails, they can still get stuck because they shouldn't be trimmed down too far. For this reason, we choose to just let our hamsters keep their nails as they are. We won't clip them unless they become a danger to the animals.

Hamsters like to crawl down, not up. When the kids are handling the hamsters, remember this rule as far as getting them out of the cage. For the purposes of picking them up, hamsters actually feel safer crawling down onto someone's hand, rather than hopping up into it. What I do is have the kids open the cage door and place their hand slightly underneath the opening. All of our hamsters are satisfied with this method. They'll come right out the door and down onto the hand. When placing the hand inside the cage, they are less sure if they want to get out. This is likely because hamsters are very territorial and anything invading their space may be seen as a threat. It's also because when you place your hand in the cage this way, they have to climb up into your hand. We've had several hamsters and they've all preferred climbing down instead.

Allow the hamster to go to your child. In addition to the way in which the child allows the hamster to crawl, she needs to know that hamsters do not like being grabbed. It can be tempting for a child to grab a hamster who doesn't willingly come into his hand. However, this is not the proper way to do things. Instead, the child needs to place a gloved hand a short distance from the hamster and be quiet, still, and patient. Wait, can a child actually do those three things? Of course they can. Part of being a pet parent is learning responsibility and this will help a great deal. The child should leave the gloved hand right outside the door for about 30 second at a time. If the hamster does not come, the child can try again in a little while. Eventually, the hamster will become curious and go for it. After practice, the hamster will soon learn that this is an invitation to come out of the cage and have some fun.

Show your child what to do when the hamster moves. Hamsters don't always sit still. It's important that kids know about this from the beginning. Our hamsters like to run up and down our arms. They also like to perch on our shoulders. Kids need oi be prepared for this and need to know how to keep the hamster safe during this activity. We always keep at least one hand near the hamster. That way, if they slip a little (which can and does happen), they are not going to fall. Teach your child to have his hand follow the hamster's movements to ensure safety for the small animal.

*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

Ever since I was a child, I have always been drawn to animals. I now witness the same connection to animals in my own kids. Whether your kids have a natural desire toward animals or it needs to be developed, kids and pets can make a great mix. Learn how and why kids and pets can make a great mix.

Pets and kids can create a lasting bond. Chances are, you have witnessed a friend or family member bonding with a pet. Perhaps it was you. The bond that occurs between animals and their caregivers is undeniable. This is true, whether the owner is a kid or adult. When your child and a pet grow up together, they can become inseparable, almost like siblings.

Pets and kids understand each other. Just like kids can develop friendships with other kids, the same can happen with animals. With friendship becomes an understanding that can only come from a close relationship. This is good both for the animals, as well as your kids. Whether your child has a guinea pig, dog, cat, rat, or other animal, you'll begin to notice the special way they communicate with each other. Whenever my daughter's guinea pig sees her, he gets very excited and starts jumping up and down with squeals of delight. He only has that reaction with her. She knows what each of his sounds and actions mean and can tend to his needs by paying attention to these cues.

Kids learn responsibility by having pets. When kids are taught to care for pets properly, they learn responsibility. Pets are almost like having children. They have needs to tend to every single day. Basic needs like food, water, love, and a clean habitat are essential. Then, there are more things to do, such as training, grooming, and exercise. Each pet has its own needs. But they all create extra tasks for kids. This is a very good lesson in what it's like to be responsible for another's well-being. Be sure that if your child adopts a pet, the duties are left up to him. Parents may need to do certain things, especially at first. But let your child do as much as possible.

Pets are good preparation for family and careers. Speaking of being responsible for another, pet care helps prepare kids for their future. While pets and human babies are different, raising a pet helps prepare kids for potentially raising kids later in life. It also helps them practice essential skills, such as follow-through, that will be ideal for employment. A child who is used to completing required tasks every day is probably more likely to succeed in the business world than one who has less responsibility.

Kids and pets both need plenty of love and both provide it. Your child can be an important source of love and enrichment for a pet. The pet will in turn do the same for your child. While kids can and should get love from family and friends, the love a pet has its place as well. One can never have too much love. That goes for both kids and pets. If your child has a pet, encourage daily cuddling or other means of affection. It will depend on the pet as to the types of affection given. For instance, a child may talk soothingly to a turtle. But he can hug and pet a cat or dog.

Extra tips:

• Not all kids should own pets. Some will not get along with them or be responsible.
• Pet responsibility should be taught to the kids before adopting them and continuously.
• Not all pets will be good with kids. Test the relationship and choose pets for your kids based on that.