My cousin had a chinchilla that was very tame and sweet. They take dust baths as water makes their fur fall out so I'm told. The dust made me sneeze, so I could never have one, but they are VERY cute and their fur is EXTREMELY soft.
We have two boy guinea pigs. They are great! They're about 7 months old and we've had them for 5 months. Lots of info at www.cavycages.com. We built our pen and we use fleece rather than regular bedding (so much cheaper and the piggies love it)...you can read all about it in the "sticky" on the forums at the website above. We've never had rabbits so I can't speak about them. Our dachshund passed away this winter, but our other pets include 2 gerbils, 1 hamster, and 2 hermit crabs...plus Pip & Squeak (the piggies). If you opt for piggies, I'd recommend Oxbow Food (they have it for young pigs that is alfalfa based and then another type for mature pigs that is timothy hay based)...we use their hay as well. I had to order the baby food but the rest I can find locally. Our boys love fresh veggies and with the food and some daily peppers in their veggies, we haven't had to supplement any extra Vit C (piggies like humans can't make their own Vit C and can get scurvy).
My girls have two Guinea Pigs,and love them.They are actually playing with them right now as I type this:love: I used to raise rabbits,and honestly don't recommend them for children.They can cause very deep scratches if they kick while being picked up.I have the scars to prove this,lol.The pigs have never scratched me or the kids. I also have two birds,a Cockatiel and a Parakeet.They are pretty neat pets,in their own way.I say this because maybe a bird would be a good pet for your family?
