Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was just wondering what ways you all use to educate the youngsters in your life about animals and how important it is to be kind to animals? Do you think it's something they just pick up or something that has to be actively taught to them?

When my kids were young, I didn't have the time to do all the rescue stuff I do now. We had cats and dogs, but basically all they saw was how I treated them and I made sure they always treated our animals with respect. Both my kids grew up to be animal lovers, but my daughter actively shows her affection for animals while my son is much more subdued.
Now I have 2 grandkids and I really want to instill in them the true love of animals that I have. Whenever they come to visit, or I go visit them, I make sure to incorporate something relating to animals in our activities. It could be reading a book, going to the zoo, watching a movie or simply interacting with my 8 cats. When they get old enough, I plan on taking them with me when I do my volunteering and showing them how much joy you can get from rescuing an animal and finding it a good home.

What ways do you use to instill love of animals and caring in the young people in your life?
Purrs,
-----
Munchie

>>I was just wondering what ways you all use to educate the youngsters in your life about animals and how important it is to be kind to animals? Do you think it's something they just pick up or something that has to be actively taught to them?

What ways do you use to instill love of animals and caring in the young people in your life?

I feel that children learn mostly by how the parents and other family members treat animals. If the parents respect, love and care for the pets, then the child will learn the same simply by interacting with the animals. By the same token, if the parents disregard the animals welfare, the children will probably learn that too.

Paula and Simba are about the same age, almost 6. Since she is as young as the cats, she had to have a lot more parental guidance when she handled the cats. Of course, the cats have their own built-in defenses too, with claws and teeth which they don't hesitate to use if she tries to pick them up when they don't want to be held or she's too rough with them. Simba's favorite person is Paula. He seeks her out and just loves for her to pet him, cuddle with him and dress him up in clothes. He usually sleeps with Paula. Here's a picture of Paula when she was about 2, holding Katrina who was only a kitten at the time.

-----
Ruby and the Kitties
Simba, Samantha, Katrina & KatyKatt
Meow!! Meow!! Meow!! Meow!!

Ruby, I love that picture of Paula. She is such an angelic little thing. Cats and kids..my two favorite things in life!
I don't think you can start teaching them too young either.
Purrs,
-----
Munchie

My nephew and niece are still a bit young (ages 4 years and 22 months) for the major plans I have in store for them. (Heh-heh, I will create animal lovers! Or at the very least animal-respecters, because I guess not everyone is born with the pet-loving gene.) The humane society here has a summer day-camp for kids seven years and older for a few weeks in the summer. I've already talked with my sister (years ago, actually) about paying to send them when they are old enough, yet young enough that they won't resent it because they'd rather attend sports-camps or something. At the camp they get to learn about how to care for cats and dogs and get to play with them, etc.

For now I just let them watch me taking care of my mom's cats and dogs and I talk to my nephew about how animals have feelings too and how they need us to take care of them. He came and saw the vet clinic while I still worked there and was interested in the animal-doctor things.

That summer day camp at the Humane Society sounds like a wonderful program. Wish ours had that type of program. I'll just have to set up my own summer "be kind to animals camp" right here for my grandkids.
Purrs,
-----
Munchie

I think as you are doing --- reading about animals to them and showing them how to take care and treat them BUT---! Maybe when they are old enough to understand you might take them to shelters and show them what happens to unwanted animals and maybe even show them some mistreated animals to try to show them that animals have feelings too and that they can hurt too!
-----
(color = dark Brown)Heidi and her "kids"/color)
(color = red)Schatzi ---- Kitty & people loveing Tuxedo SPoo(/color)
(color = green)Corkie --- Little Miss Incredible VAS Tabby (/color)
(color = blue)Kotton --- Blue Eyed Siamese sweetheart(/color)

I think it helps to teach to be kind, caring, and responsible. When you have something that relies on you, you treat it with a whole new perspective.

But, more importantly, and sadly, I think in many cases it gives children their first experience in death and dealing with it. It helps prepare them for life watching a pet go full-circle.
-----
Tammy
Stanley and Pookey

>>I think it helps to teach to be kind, caring, and responsible. When you have something that relies on you, you treat it with a whole new perspective.
>>
>>But, more importantly, and sadly, I think in many cases it gives children their first experience in death and dealing with it. It helps prepare them for life watching a pet go full-circle.
>>-----
>>Tammy
>>Stanley and Pookey

Tammy, that's very true. The cats were here when the grandkids were born, so they will be together for as long as the cats have. Even at 3 years old, my grandson knows to be very gentle with the cats. They are the first thing he looks for when he comes here. have to wait a bit for my granddaughter yet, she's only 3 months old.
Purrs,
-----
Munchie

Heidi, when my grandkids are old enough, I fully intend to bring them to the local shelters and to some of my rescues to show them what bad people do to animals. Actually, my grandson who turned 3 last month saw a picture of 2 persian cats that we had rescued. They were in horrible shape in the picture. He brought the picture to me and said "Nanny...kitty cat hurt? Poor kitty cat." So I think we are on the right track already.
Purrs,
-----
Munchie

I think that everyone here gave excellent advice. When our kids were growing up- all 6 of them (yours, mine,ours) we had all sorts of animals. Each was responsible for certain aspects of animal care. I am going to also add that we live in the country-not city-so there is ample ways to teach a young one to become an "animal lover". Even though our children are now grown, they still have a healthy respect for animals and all of them are pet owners. Our grandchildren are even following in their parents footsteps. I believe that setting the example is the best teacher. I do not subscribe to the theory of "do what I say but not as I do".
-----
Boris's Human

I think that it's never too young to train a child to show love and to care for our pets. Katelyn is only 16 months old and already she knows the difference between "nice nice" (gently stroking) and pounding the cats. She knows that if she's not gentle she will get moved. So she tries her best. We've been working with teaching her this since she first learned to roll across the floor and catch 2 of them in bear hugs. Now that she's a bit older sometimes she does get a bit over zealous and tries to pound them like she can her grandparents 2 big dogs. But all we have to do is say "pet nice nice" and she's fine. As she gets older we will have more ways for her to help out. But for now she can just love them. She loooooves them soooo much! Not a day goes by where she isn't in the couch next to Al or Sheridan petting them or chasing one of them down saying "peh peh". And she gets sad that Cali won't let her near. So by teaching them young more than likely it will instill in them a love, respect, and compassion for all types of animals.

Kathryn

Kathryn, Your approach to teaching Katelyn the love and respect of animals is excellent! You are instilling very good values in her and she'll grow up treating animals and pets with the love and respect that they deserve!

Good job!
-----
Ruby and the Kitties
Simba, Samantha, Katrina & KatyKatt
Meow!! Meow!! Meow!! Meow!!

Kathryn, it's just wonderful to hear how much love little Katelyn
has for your cats already. It sounds like you are doing all the right things. We might weven have a cat rescuer on our hands when she is old enough to make that decision.
Purrs,
-----
Munchie

Can't give much of an opinion here, since I am single. I guess everything can be taught BY EXAMPLE.
None of my nephews and nieces have pets as of now (well, one bird, but I'd rather not mention it in a kitty forum, LOL)
-----
Bob, Daisy, Karla and the Goldfish

Ahem. Kathryn has left out one tiny detail in her description of her adorable daughter Katelyn's skill in getting along with animals. Kateylyn MEOWS!!! That's right. Katelyn doesn't merely say "Meow" or even make a cheap imitation "Mew" like we adults might. Oh no no no. Katelyn can meow, and her meows are enough to send a cat on the second perch of his cat tree flying up to the top perch, hitting the ceiling along the way. It's true. Just ask Kiko. ROTFLOL!! She's a Dr. Doolittle in the making.

Lisa

>>Ahem. Kathryn has left out one tiny detail in her description of her adorable daughter Katelyn's skill in getting along with animals. Kateylyn MEOWS!!! That's right. Katelyn doesn't merely say "Meow" or even make a cheap imitation "Mew" like we adults might. Oh no no no. Katelyn can meow, and her meows are enough to send a cat on the second perch of his cat tree flying up to the top perch, hitting the ceiling along the way. It's true. Just ask Kiko. ROTFLOL!! She's a Dr. Doolittle in the making.
>>
>>Lisa

How cute! Don't you think it's about time to post some more pictures of her and the kitties, Kathryn? I'd like to see some.

-----
Ruby and the Kitties
Simba, Samantha, Katrina & KatyKatt
Meow!! Meow!! Meow!! Meow!!

I kiss my cats on the lips!

I guess I should post some new pics huh? I haven't for awhile. I'm in the process of password protecting her webpage too. I've been leary of posting pics lately cause over on our aol baby boards for her birth month/year we have a freaky person targeting 2 of the moms and now is trying to move on to harass the rest of us too via different methods. This freak has gone on to take pics of their kids (that he got from their kids'non-password protected webpages) and manipulated them in a not so good way. So the rest of us are being extra careful. So as soon as Katelyn's site is back up, password protected, and new pics I will let everyone know via e-mail with the password.
Kathryn

our aol baby boards for her birth month/year we have a freaky person targeting 2 of the moms and now is trying to move on to harass the rest of us too via different methods. This freak has gone on to take pics of their kids (that he got from their kids'non-password protected webpages) and manipulated them in a not so good way.

Oh my! So I guess that posting pictures is not such a good idea then. Leave it to a few bad seeds to spoil it for everybody. I don't blame you for not wanting to post them, Kathryn.
-----
Ruby and the Kitties
Simba, Samantha, Katrina & KatyKatt
Meow!! Meow!! Meow!! Meow!!

I kiss my cats on the lips!