I don't have kids yet (only 19 lol) but I plan on raising my kids along with my snake collection. Even with the harmless ball pythons they will know that you can get hurt if you don't treat them with the proper respect. I would think that even a child could distinguish how much more dangerous (thus how much more respect is needed) a venomous snake is. A child that has grown up around snakes and has learned that they are something to be respected and not feared is all that's needed, because it's the fear that brings out the shovel to kill the monster snake.