Is there a way to tame a pet gerbil?

growing up i had guinea pigs, and i nvr had problems with gettin them use to me....i use to be able to let them sit on me and not worry about them runnin off or biting me....well for my lil girls first pet we decided to get her a pet gerbil and i was wondering if there was a way to calm him down or will he ever get use to bein held and play wit like my guinea pigs were????