The best bird for kids with families?
Now, provided the adults are responsible and the birds are maintained by the adults and the kids get supervised interaction with the birds, here's my list:
Hahn's are great. Not all mini's are. Never lump them together. I wouldn't stick a yellow-collared or severe with kids. However, a Hahn's is like shrinking down a B&G macaw in attitude and mating it with a green-cheeked conure but removing abut 75% of the independant attitude. Believe me, 25% is plenty. I love the Hahn's. They're reasonably quiet (especially compared to aratingas), they're very loving and they have a nice ability to entertain themselves. Plus, they happily accept and adore entire families.
SOME Pionus species. They don't call Pionus 'poor man's Amazon' for nothing, so veer away from the spicier Pi's like W/C and Maxmillians because they can easily turn 'amazon' if they get pissed off. Blue-heads and B/W are beyond a doubt two of the best family birds ever. Quiet, friendly, playful... not very cuddly but will sit and be pet for hours. They also form strong flock bonds over a single person bond. The only problem is the smell - some people can't handle the Pi musk.
Poicephalus can be tricky as a family bird. I don't normally recommend them for younger kids. Poicephalus can get very, very aggressive at times - most small African birds can. Small does not make 'good'. If I were to say 'yes' on any poicephalus being goodish with kids, it would be the meyers and senegals over the capes, jardines, ruppells, and so on.
Appropriately socialised Sun Conures make a great family pet, and they're usually quieter than the kids ...or you, when you're having to scream at the kids. ...which will be often. And, if you're lucky, the Sun will learn to scream at them for you! Bonus there. This is pretty much standard for all Aratingas when socialised correctly.
Vasa parrots make lovely pets for families with kids! And, think of the benefits of it coming into sexual prime during Halloween! You get your very own buzzard for a deco!
Properly socialised GCC's also make great family pets WHEN raised in a family environment. The only problem I see with a family and a gcc, is that they're fragile and could be harmed very easily if care isn't taken when handling them.
...the family, that is.
Cockatiels. Everyone knows their merits. Get hand-raised, socialised ones and enjoy a great, friendly relationship.
That's my list, pretty much. Though, all birds have the ability to be exceptional around kids, care has to be taken to think of temperment, possibility of flare-ups, excitement over-drive, and the ability to do great harm when and if bitten or attacked. ...Though, I tell you, I'd rather be bitten by my B&G than a GCC. Holy cow, those buggers go for the bone when they get on it. And big B&G's can't dart to the side and into your shirt, claw their way to your armpit in like .002 seconds and bite 415 times before you can escape them; flinging yourself around like you're a crazy drug-induced tribal shaman in a voodoo dance until the bird flies out and looks INNOCENT.