I'm certainly not trying to start an argument but I felt this topic needed to be address.
Garters are a wonderful addition to a home but I don't think they are appropriate for young children as a pet. I can't give you an age when I think they would be, but age can't be the only deciding factor. Maturity both physically and mentally should be figured in. This is not to say any parent would leave the care of one of these wonderful snakes to a child too young to give them the care they need. Most of my concern is when young children handle/hold garters. As we all know holding a garter isn't so easily done. Young children don't understand the concept of holding a garter but allowing it to move. Garters are wonderful for children to observe or even touch but only under the supervision of an adult. We've all seen how garters can become rather person specific and to hand one over to an unknown/untrusted person/child is risky.