With kids they are excellent - they are eager playmates, and withstand a lot of affection and attention without ever tiring of it. I have never had to worry about the neighborhood kids coming to play with my dogs or pups. They shed so little, that they are great house pets - there is no need to vacuum up their hairs every day as with some breeds, and in fact, both my cats shed way more hair than any of my beagles. Although begales are little dogs, they are not wimps - they are courageous dogs who will chase a fox or coyote in the morning, act as a watchdog all afternoon, play with the kids after dinner, and then curl up in bed with you at the end of the day. Great dogs with some training, but not for everyone.
Beagles are a hunting breed.
You can't expect them to cling to you like a companion breed or a herding breed. They are good companions but very high energy dogs. If you want a quiet companion you should get another reed. They are intelligent, sometime too much for their own good. With proper training a Beagle may be a good dog for you.