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. There are those who enjoy mice as pets, but in my opinion they're not the best pets for kids. I ve raised them and found them to be nervous, skiddish little animals. If there are more than one in a cage, I ve seen them attack and even kill each other. Mice also have a stronger odor than that of hamsters, gerbils, and rats, so they need to have their cages changed more often.