I've had snakes a lot longer than I've had my two kids, now 4 and 5. We've never had a problem. My wife actually talked me into getting rid of the big ones (burms and boas) when we first got married because she was scared they would somehow get her 30 – 40 lb dogs (theoretically the burms could have). With ball pythons and corn snakes I've been more worried about the kids hurting the snakes so I keep them in a locked basement (the snakes . The kids occasionally come down while I'm working and ask to touch or hold one and we always wash up with soap right after and I always wash up as soon as I come out of the basement. I think any risk with ball pythons is minimal but of course you want good caging. Probably the biggest danger apart from salmonella is the electrical cords and the chance that a kid might adjust a thermostat so keep these up and out of the way and best to keep even well locked secure snake cages in a room away from small children.