Well, this weekend we're encouraging you to purchase a baby beaver for your children.[more]
So for today's activity, say to your kids, "We're going to get a new pet: a baby beaver. What types of things will we need to buy for the baby beaver? And will we need to change our house at all for him?"
My kids — six and four years old — decided we'd keep the baby beaver on the patio. We'd need to build a long stream and a wide pond for him. (And we might need to use some of the neighbor's yard, too.) We'd have to get a lot of sticks and branches, both for gnawing and beaver home-building.
The kids didn't know what beavers eat, so we had to look in a book. Turns out they eat a lot of tree bark (go figure), as well as berries and water plants. So we'll have to stock up on those items, too.
Maybe a beaver isn't just right for your family. How about a cheetah, then? Again ask your kids, "What types of things will we need to buy for a pet cheetah? And will we need to change our house at all for her?"
Would your kids rather have a rhinoceros? Fine by us. How about a humpback whale? Or a family of baboons? Anyone want to buy their kids a great white shark?
The trick here is to keep talking and thinking about various animals — what the animals are like and what they need to survive. My kids absolutely love discussing all sorts of animals — and they loved this activity.
Truth be told, we're not going to be buying a pet of any sort. Beavers, cheetahs, rhinos — and all sorts of animals that intrigue and excite my children — are best left free and in their natural habitats.
But thinking, creativity, and fun are essential parts of a child's natural habitat. And that's what we're really doing here, of course.
Have a great, fun family weekend. And give a hug to your new baby beaver for us!
