Taking your children to the zoo can teach them a lot about certain species of animals. But in order for children to develop a healthy respect and fear of wild animals, parents should teach them in advance that wild animals they see in a zoo are not the same as domesticated cats and dogs that can be touched, stroked or treated with familiarity.
Escaped Animals
Although most zoos are very secure and instances of wild animals escaping are rare, this can happen. If children are instructed about what is appropriate before they even venture inside a zoo, then they will learn that wild animals are a beauty to behold from a distance, rather than an animal that can be domesticated.
Show Related Videos or DVDs
One way in which parents can instill a healthy fear of wild animals into their children is to rent or check out videos or DVD's about wild animals and show them to your children. Parents should keep their children's ages in mind when doing this. Very young children may find it quite disturbing to watch as a lion hunts and then kills its prey.
Read Signs at the Zoo
Children who are old enough to read can learn a lot just from reading the warning signs that are put up around the animals' homes. After reading the warning signs with your children, take the time to answer their questions such as "what's so wrong about placing my fingers inside the fence that surrounds the lions? Can I feed the tiger?" Parents should be honest in the reasons that they give, such as mentioning that lions can bite and it will hurt a lot, rather than resorting to scare tactics such as: "do you want to be eaten by a lion?"
Keep a Healthy Distance from wild animals on display
Many animal handlers at the zoo will have a wild animal with them outside the animal's cage or fenced in habitat. But that does mean to say that it is safe for the general public to approach the animal handler and ask to stroke the animal. Parents must let their children know that they can take a look at the animal, but that they also need to keep a healthy distance from it in case anything goes wrong and the animal gets loose.
Children can have an enjoyable time at the zoo, but they will have an even better time if they learn that wild animals are not the same as the pets they have at home. Wild animals should be shown the proper respect; otherwise they will act on instinct and that can be devastating for families.
