Teaching the children

[malcularius]

Might be the wrong forum to be asking this. I currently live in Arkansas we have various native hot herps. While i do not own any hots i do own boas. I also have small children who have no fear of snakes. being as i grew up in places where there were no hot snakes, i have no experience in the matter. what is the best way to teach toddlers who love ALL snakes to avoid SOME snakes? I dont want to ruin them for the boas that they love, but i dont want them to go picking up our native hots and getting hurt either.

thanks ahead,
Ashley

[Pandorasdad]

Re: Teaching the children

Take them to the zoo if there's one close and let them see the venomous snakes. Google the local hots and teach them how to spot them, where they live and hide, and why they shouldn't pick them up. Teach them to respect them, not fear them.

[Noelle7206]

Re: Teaching the children

I'm no expert on children, but I'd say teach them to look and report but never touch or get close to ANY snakes they see without adult supervision (you?) present. They are too young to rely on them being able to tell the
difference...when they are older, guidebooks & trips to the zoo can help them learn to identify which is which, but that's a long time off yet. I think it's much the same as not approaching a dog they don't know...some
dogs bite too.

[malcularius]

Re: Teaching the children

That is going to be the trick. Getting my son to listen, tell him not to touch something he goes ahead and does it anyways. Thank you for the input

[zamora]

Re: Teaching the children

How about telling them the only snakes they should touch are the ones in your house? When they are old enough, you can educate them to the different species but if they are young, keep it simple.

[malcularius]

Re: Teaching the children

I'm going to try that, i have the worlds most stubborn hardheaded boy in existence. we haven’t had any hots in our yard yet, no non hots for that matter either, but it is Arkansas so only a matter of time.

[Pandorasdad]

Re: Teaching the children

Children rarely learn when you tell them. But they will absorb like a dry sponge all that you show them.