BIRDS! Birds are extremely intellgent animals and most that you find at pet stores are young. Of course, NOT a parrot like a Macaw. WAY TO HARD for an 8year old! How about a budgie? They are very sweet and if trained early make wonderful companions. They need excercise out of their cages which means Playtime to. He CAN watch TV with it if he can traine dit to sit on his shoulder.