Kids and reps

[emmipez1989]

How many of you get your kids involved with your reptiles?
My sister hates the fact that her 2 daughters (2 and 3) and son (11) like to get so involved.
Dont get me wrong, they know when they can and when they cant like if im doing something delecate like probing or if they are ill but i dont see the problem with a 2 year old holding a corn, a millipede, a leo or something. (under strict supervision)
personally i think its best they get used 2 them incase they end up staying here.

Anyway your thoughts please!

[Nebbz]

i always try to involve my nephew, he asks so many questions and he calls them dinosaurs (hes 5) and my sister thinks its great! cus apparntly comes home with loads of gossip about how he touched my snake, how ever he wont hold her yet! but told him in his own time and he can just ask!

she knows im responsible enough to say no when he goes to far! and knows its a good way to keep him occupied as spends most of his time on the xbox!

[Art_Gecko101]

I think its fab, my 2nd cousin (emma) is getting really grown up for her age (turning 3 this week) and last week she stood up in the lounge in front of her mum and dad and announced "Mummy I would like a frog" her mummy said, "Emma, the frogs in the garden are all asleep for winter now" to which she replied "No i would like a frog in a tank". lol Cracked me up, mostly because her mum's terrified of frogs and when i showed her my Whites tree frogs would barely let Emma get within touching distance!

ah ha young minds to mould!

[emmipez1989]

i took the 2 girls 2 the rep room in blackpool on sat and they loved it, "snake! snake snake gecko gecko beardie cham"
and the 1 that alarmed me the most (but made me so proud) was when charlie (2) said "look emma a lizard" hannah (3) said "no charlie you cant have that 1 that is a monitor and gets very big"
oh was stunned 2 the point of buying ice cream to say the least but shes always been good with animals, shes starting to pick up morphs of corns and can tell me what mine are. next dave attenborough me thinks. but female

[SleepyD]

my kids were all raised with an equivelant to a zoo including reps, taught how to be responsible around them etc and my grandchildren are the same. The youngest loves helping sort out the live food and with the daily jobs

[Julie&James]

I don't have any problem with it so long as common sense is applied. If nothing else, it's very educational.

My youngest is 7, and has named himself "assistant head keeper", which basically means he gets to run to the bin/toilet with pooey kitchen roll, refill water bottle caps, and top up calcium. Once in a while he handles the geckos and tosses mealworms in for them. He adores the responsibility.

Needless to say, we stress the animal welfare and also cleanliness issues to him, and make sure that he sanitizes/anti-bacs his hand between animals, and after helping.

Also, on the "danger" issue, even a large non-venomous snake is only going to give a bite, which is exactly the risk anyone who has a dog (of any size or temperament) runs when letting the animal interact with a small child. Within the realms of common sense, I don't see why a reptile is any more dangerous than a cat or a dog, and I don't know many parents who freak out if their kids are around a house cat.

[ReptileKid]

Im a kid! lol well 14
my little cusine comes round any strokes my iggy, holds my leo nd watches my reps for ages just sat by herself lol
i recon its good, i wish i could of got into it sooner.

[drpjtaylor]

Originally Posted by Art_Gecko101

... mostly because her mum's terrified of frogs and when i showed her my Whites tree frogs would barely let Emma get within touching distance!

ah ha young minds to mould!

This is to often the case that adults pass on their phobias to their children.
My daughters friend wouldn't come in our house at first, its taken a while but now she always asks if she can help look after the animals when she comes round. She has overcome all her fears and is always asking questions. She would love a pet of her own but judging by the look of disgust on her mothers face when she tells her what she has been doing its not going to happen.

All our kids get involved with the care of the animals and all have a pet of their own. Its a good way to teach responsibilty.

[Pleco07]

Since gettin my reps one of my yunger bros has got a corn snake and one of my yunger sis' wants a king snake. They all handle mine wen their out and like to get involved.

My yungest bro (4) he loves the reps, he can quite happily and carefully get all the snakes and BD out, doesn't phase him in slightest.

This is Jake (lil bro - 4) with Kurt my 5ft 1 male corn, he wanted a picture so he cud show his teacher.

[pink lady]

Originally Posted by Pleco07

Since gettin my reps one of my yunger bros has got a corn snake and one of my yunger sis' wants a king snake. They all handle mine wen their out and like to get involved.

My yungest bro (4) he loves the reps, he can quite happily and carefully get all the snakes and BD out, doesn't phase him in slightest.

This is Jake (lil bro - 4) with Kurt my 5ft 1 male corn, he wanted a picture so he cud show his teacher.

jake is such a sweetie, and he manages 2 get annie out 2, he is fearless!