Kids and reps

[Sirvincent]

I've got a 4 year old boy and 20 month old girl. Today I took my son to spend some time with a few adult iguanas and although a little cautious at first, he enjoyed the exprience. He thought they were dinosaurs . He often asks to get the royals out and he's allowed to hold them ( sat next to me at all times) and really loves the tortoise.

My daughter is starting to speak and one of her first words was 'Nake! she's often watching the vivs in the living room and counting the snakes as they move around.

I can't see anything wrong with this as long as they are never left unsupervised. However, I have had people question why my kids are so envolved with the snakes and telling me that I'm irresponsible and they should never interact with the snakes. " It's way too dangerous"

Do you guys allow your kids to play/handle your reps? Or have you had any bad experiences from other parents/adults?

just something that got me thinking today..................

[MrsGoatlegs]

I have let my seven year old hold my royal and milk snake. He does not show much interest though My little 8 month old is fascinated by watching them in the vivs but I think he might be a bit young to hold one! lol! I think it is great to get them interested in reptiles (and spiders). I would rather that than have them growing up thinking they are evil!!

[kerryrep22]

well my OHs 7 year old step son has held lots of our reps, lizards and snakes, not the spiders obviously, supervised of course. to be honest he loses interest quickly, but its great that he has no fear of these amazing animals now, and often asks to get them out and see them.

[mariak]

my 9 year old is the 1 that has started us off.His dad bought him a corn hatchling for his birthday this year a few weeks later we bought our first royal.He does everything for his snake feeds it cleans it out and handles it with supervision most days. He has read all he can on snakes and we are buying him his own royal for christmas.He wants to breed snakes when he is older and he knows all he possibly can bout them.I sometimes think he knows more bout them than me lol.

[wildlifewarrior]

[jordan .f.]

well i have a 2 and a half year old brother who loves to watch the snakes and stroke them but i only let him when im watching him just incase.
never had any problem with them trying to bite him tho.

[Grond]

My four year old had been stroking the snakes, lizards and the tortoises for ages, and this week he got to hold a snake all by himself for the first time(a very tame Bairds rat).

He has his own pet milksnake, which he chose himself, and is really proud of. He's not held him yet as he's still a baby(and musks!) but he has fed him with the tongs.

My two year old is less keen, but is also encouraged to participate.

Nobody would think twice about them stroking our cat, so why should the snakes be any different?

Obviously they are supervised at all times, and strict handwashing is employed.

I think getting them interested in animals/wildlife at an early age is the way to go!

[MrsGoatlegs]

Originally Posted by wildlifewarrior

image

Aw she is so cute!

[shaun348]

I have let few of my younger cousins hold some of mine, they seem to be really interested in them, As long as they are supervised i dont see how its irresponsible

[seafightserpent]

ive let my 8 yr old daughter hold our corn snake always supervised an whens hanmds have been washed and shes tried sneakin him off to her bedroom to see her teddies but was caught before she made it to the door lol.