Hmmm, I originally was reading that mice are better and more social and interactive than hamsters. And that hamsters are more likely to bite. But more articles are saying hamsters are a bit calmer. Plus you only need and want 1 hamster as they like to be alone whereas mice like 2 or more. Also apparently mice can stink more than hamsters.
I may have to look into the hamster or those tiny teddy bear looking hamsters.
if you get a hamster, please look after it properly.
don't buy it a tiny cage, or a cage with those neon tubes, or a cage that has two levels. hamsters actually require a large space, so think a big long (hehe) glass aquarium or even those plastic totes from walmart. they require much more space than a pet store employee will let on. the tubes are dangerous, and many hamsters have gotten stuck in them and died. and as i learned on sherdog, hamsters can't see well beyond their whiskers, so they can very easily fall off of a second higher level, and injure themselves.
for diet, hamsters eat veggies and meat, can feed them cooked noodles too as a treat. but make sure their diet is well balanced.
they also require a sand bath (sand put into a large enough container that they can roll around in and "bathe" themselves).
obviously wheels are necessary. but make sure the wheel is big enough that the hamster's back doesn't arch. this can actually really fuck up a hamster's spine and give them a hunchback. also make sure the surface of the wheel won't cause bumble foot. you can give them those "Saucer" wheels, but they should only be given this now and then and not for extended periods of time as it can also cause problems.
they should also have enough bedding in their cage that they can burrow and make tunnels.
oh, and everybody loves putting hamsters in those little balls and letting them loose. but this shouldn't be done often, and for only a few minutes at a time, as it causes stress to the hamster.
tbh hamsters are easy pets if you don't actually research them and care for them as you should. but this will end up in your hamster having a poor quality of life, and likely a short one. this is why you hear so many people say, "lol hamsters only live for two weeks".
anyways, i had three hammies, one from a pet store (there wasn't anywhere in my current town that you could get them), and two second hand. the one i had the entire time was raised properly and never bit me once, one of the other hamsters was so terribly neglected it that it screamed and bit constantly and had to be handled with gloves. the other one i got had a hunchback from a wheel that was too small, and was sick from neglect and died soon, tho she never bit. she was just . . . a sad lil hammy.
keep in mind that hamsters can get into EVERYTHING. they're tiny, and can make themselves even tinier to fit through small holes and spaces. they also never sit frigging still, they're always on the go lol. might make it hard for your kids to keep a handle on them.
also keep in mind that hamsters can get stressed very easily, and this often results in illness.