I am thinking of getting a pet for the family. I have 3 kids and weekends will need to go out for more than half a day. What do you think is a suitable pet to have?

You can consider having a dog like R Gosh recommended or you can get smaller pets like hamster so that the kids will be the primary caregiver for the pet. This will allow them to learn about responsibilities. You can teach and supervise them to change the bedding, feed the pet and even refill the water! It will definitely be a great experience for the kids.