Welcome to the world of Ball Python ownership! I'm sure once your snake is settled in properly it will become a very beloved and unique pet. I've found with having snakes and children (all 4 of my kids have their own personal snakes as well as spend time working with our collection), that the snakes teach my kids about patience, empathy, trusting one's instincts, quiet observation and research skills just to name a few.

Let your little snake settle in for a week. Quietly observe it but other than water changes or to remove waste products, just leave it be for now. After the week is up offer it an appropriate prey item. That item should be about the same dimensions at it's widest girth as your snake is (on a rodent that largest dimension are the hips/butt). Always wait 48 before handling after a feeding and remind your son to wash his hands or use gel hand sanitizer after handling the snake. Also to not handle the snake if his hands smell like rodent (in case he keeps a pet hamster or such like).

Ball pythons are very head shy. It's best if you can pick them up without your hand hovering over their head. Tends to put you in the predator position and freak out the poor little snake. Do not be surprised if it seems a bit on the defensive side right now, little snakes are programmed to know that big things might want to eat them.

Personally I feed all our snakes in their own enclosures. BP's are ambush predators so often they hunt best from the familar confines of their hide. It's up to you if you want to feed in a seperate container but do it only if you understand why. If you are feeding it out of it's home because the store told you to or it would become aggressive and nippy, that's a complete myth.