By nature, they will sleep most of the day and be active at night. If your child want a little pet that s awake during the day, a hamster might not be the best choice. They are sometimes even cranky when awakened during the day. When startled or hurt, hamsters can deliver quite a bite. Very young children sometimes have a hard time learning how to handle small animals properly, and this should be kept in mind when thinking about a hamster.
Gerbils are similar to hamsters in their needs.
The basics are the same for both. I ve found gerbils to sometimes be a little more active than hamsters. They sleep a lot during the day also, and do play at night. Some gerbils can be aggressive, especially when being picked up, or startled. When considering a gerbil, once again think about the age of your child.