Why rats make great pets (especially for schools and preschools)

1. Because rats natually live in groups and accept people into those groups, they are very friendly and gregarious. They are used to living amoung rats and so easily adapt to living amoung kids.

2. Because rats natually groom themselves and other rats, they are comfortable being handled. This is actually very unusual for an animal and especially a small animal. Most small animals naturally hate being handled or picked up. It is not something that happens to them naturally. But rats are an exception to this generality. In groups, rats spend lots of time grooming themselves and each other, so they are used to having other rats pawing them.

3. Because rats are natually opertunistic omnivours, they are fun to play with. A lot of animals, especially small ones, are prey animals. They spend their whole lives trying to avoid being eaten, and they forage for food the same way every day. In captivity, these animals are boring! They hide, they don't move much, and they do the same thing each day. (Much like they do in nature.)

What do all these things mean?

Choosing a rat for a cooperative Preschool

Different rats have different personalities. In my experience, it is better to get a "lap rat" for a preschool. By this I mean a rat which likes to sit in one place, and not a more exploritory rat.

Rememberance Song for a Preschool's Pet Rat

Sung to the tune of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot"

Swing low, sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home
Swing low, sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home

Well I've had a good life, living in the game room
                          coming for to carry me home
Eating my carrots and playing with the kids
                          coming for to carry me home

Swing low, sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home
Swing low, sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home

Now I spend my daysez running in mazes
                          coming for to carry me home
Teaching the kids 'bout sharin' and carin'
                          coming for to carry me home

Swing low, sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home
Swing low, sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home

Ariel got to heaven before we did
                          coming for to carry me home
She'll be waitin' there to play with us
                          coming for to carry me home

Swing low, sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home
Swing low, sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home