The part I bolded does not exist. I'm not being mean or discouraging, just honest.
Snakes can not be left unattended at all unless they are secured in their enclosures.
They are very fast and extremely good at hiding when they want to be. In addition to losing your new pet, it can also get hurt quite easily by getting stepped on, tripped over, something dropped on it, falling even a relatively short distance, trying to fit into a too small space & thrashing, knocking things over onto itself, etc. It is much easier to kid proof your house then to herp proof it.
It is very possible to have both small children & snakes at the same time if the proper precautions are taken & the children are taught proper handling & respect. Snake bites are Keeper error, they happen when we do something wrong.
I grew up with various reptiles and my daughter was born into a herp keeping home. Because I was unbending about proper handling & respect towards them we only had one single incident with all the various critters we had ~ she dumped our new tadpoles in the turtles' tank
I never once had a problem with her and my 6 & 8 ft (apprx. I quit measuring them) boas, even when she was a toddler.
All the snakes listed are pretty good for beginners. Personally, if not a boa (I'm predominantly a boa girl), I'd go with a cornsnake. Their length is offset by their slimness, they're easy to care, stay on feed well, come in a vast variety of colors/patterns, make great display animals, are generally easy going & once they're old enough they tolerate handling well.
I'd also recommend checking out your local reptile show if you have one. You'd get a chance to talk to breeders in person, pick up some great tips & the show I go to has a better variety than our zoo so the kids could have a blast
The part I bolded does not exist. I'm not being mean or discouraging, just honest.
Snakes can not be left unattended at all unless they are secured in their enclosures.
They are very fast and extremely good at hiding when they want to be. In addition to losing your new pet, it can also get hurt quite easily by getting stepped on, tripped over, something dropped on it, falling even a relatively short distance, trying to fit into a too small space & thrashing, knocking things over onto itself, etc. It is much easier to kid proof your house then to herp proof it.
It is very possible to have both small children & snakes at the same time if the proper precautions are taken & the children are taught proper handling & respect. Snake bites are Keeper error, they happen when we do something wrong.
I grew up with various reptiles and my daughter was born into a herp keeping home. Because I was unbending about proper handling & respect towards them we only had one single incident with all the various critters we had ~ she dumped our new tadpoles in the turtles' tank
I never once had a problem with her and my 6 & 8 ft (apprx. I quit measuring them) boas, even when she was a toddler.
All the snakes listed are pretty good for beginners. Personally, if not a boa (I'm predominantly a boa girl), I'd go with a cornsnake. Their length is offset by their slimness, they're easy to care, stay on feed well, come in a vast variety of colors/patterns, make great display animals, are generally easy going & once they're old enough they tolerate handling well.
I'd also recommend checking out your local reptile show if you have one. You'd get a chance to talk to breeders in person, pick up some great tips & the show I go to has a better variety than our zoo so the kids could have a blast
I did a lot of research and was originally going to get a milksnake, but after holding a number of snakes at the reptile show in April, I realized that I really enjoyed the longer snakes. I didn't want something too heavy and I liked the look of slim bodied snakes so I went with the ratsnake. Although I did not get to hold him first, I did buy him from someone I trusted who had shared with a lot of people before he decided to sell the snake that it was tame as a cornsnake. The snake was also used in educational programs being handled by many people and good with children. Basically the guy needed the cash and less animals to care for more than he needed the snake. Anyway, I love my snake, he has an awesome temperament and he is fun to hold. At about 8 ft there is a lot of him to admire and he is not at all difficult to manage because he is slim and only weighs like 4 or 5 pounds. The frosting on the cake is that unlike milksnakes, this type of snake doesn't poop a lot, not that I would pick a snake for that reason, but it is definitely an added bonus! 
That's the best name!