Yesterday Small Friends had a visit from Emily and some of her Native Australian Pets. She brought Princess the children’s python, Bangers the Shingle back Lizard, Mowgli the Sugar Glider, A Long necked turtle and a cool scorpion that glows blue when you shine a UV light on it!
The children were curious and brave and all took turns petting the animals. We learnt about the parts of the animals, what to do if we find one in our back yards (take 3 big steps backwards and Shout “Snake, Snake, Snake!) and how some animals are cold blooded and some warm blooded. One of the critters is critically endangered and we learnt what that meant and how caring for Country can help save these turtles from extinction.
When children learn about native Australian animals they develop knowledgeable and confident self identities, They learn to be socially responsible and show respect for the environment and the interactions between the children and the animals provide much sensory feed back to their little brains. The Small Friends were full of questions today, curiosity was definitely peaked and we hope that the experience sparked something in some potential future wildlife warriors.
