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Children are the future guardians of this earth, so we need to educate them while they are young and teach them how to care for the animal world. Animal charities are welll aware of this vital task, and many offer Kids Clubs or Children's Clubs - call them what you will - with all sorts of activities for young people. Some even have teen clubs
Children & young people are capable of far more than we think
Children are very capable of fundraising and coming up with ideas to help the animals they care so much about. One of the most ingenious has to be Louis Barnett, who makes and sells his own chocolate, Chokolit. Louis is dedicated to raising awareness of animal conservation & protecting their natural habitat. Whatever you do, check out the Why Bite Back? section of his web site. Other young people such as 16 year old Tamsin Ball in Devon have organised musical concerts to help animals (specifically George, a German Shepherd with an eye problem) & their relevent charities, or asked for money for their birthdays to give to a cat charity.
Give them something through the year
If you've got nephews, nieces, grandchildren or friends with children and you're looking for a gift, find out what their favourite animal is, find its relevant charity and see whether they have a membership for children or gifts for children. For pet lovers for instance, the PDSA do a £10 membership; for those more into nature, you could look at the RSPB
What about a day out?
Give them days out where they can get to find out more about nature - don't worry if you don't know much yourself. There are a plethora of excellent nature books on the market - the RSPB has some very good ones - which you can read together. And if your child asks you a question which you can't answer, use the internet to look up the answer together. It will help develop your knowledge and understanding and theirs.
Make the most of the animal-human bond
Animals excel at bringing generations together. They are neutral, and can make us laugh & smile, feel better about life & more positive. Donkeys visiting nursing homes, such as the donkeys of the Elisabeth Svendsen Trust do, often find that children will be keener to visit Granny and Granddad if they are coming to make their rounds. Staff find that they have something to talk about to those in their care. Most of us can relate stories of pets or animals they've known & loved. Whether you agree with it or not, pandas can do great work breaking down or at least thawing barriers between countries as they make their "state" visits.
Relish that fresh air & exercise factor, too!
When a child goes and plays with animals or in the countryside, the bad news is that they are likely to come home very muddy and dirty, from head to foot and on most of their clothing. The good news is that they will be worn out, full of all that fresh air & excercise, and you can put them to bed early to get a good night's sleep while relaxing with a glass of your favourite something! After all those calories you've burnt off walking, you deserve it. |
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