letting young children handle week-old chicks

[LarryPQ]

should be same rules as the daycare:


wash hands
be nice/gentle
no hitting
sneeze inside shirt or at least the elbow crook
no touch poopoo/peepee
inside voices
no running/fast movements

Last night my 3 year ol was holding a 3-week chick. She jumped on his shoulder and he freaked a little. She was behind his neck and I think the feeling of little nails coming over his collar was too much. He grabbed her over his head and froze. I yelled (I know, my bad) for him to let go, but I don't think he COULD let go. Anyway, I set the baby down an quickly disengaged said hand/chicken/shirt collar.

Thankfully she wasn't hurt (or even scared) by the whole thing. She even tried to play with him later, but my son was a little traumatized. He was overtired at bed time, and did that cry-ey thing kids do when they are rehashing the day.

"Mama, I bad when I grab the big baby chicken"

I felt soooo bad for yelling at him to let go....

So we start over, he learns they won't hurt him, and I do better.

 

[cassie]

It is my humble opinion that children today are kept far too clean and it is really not good for them. Too many live in a world of germicidal this and disinfectant that to the point that they do not get enough exposure to common environmental bacteria. As a result their immune systems do not develop properly. Then when they do get exposure to a germ with some teeth in it they keel over. Not too long ago we had some local city kids take a field trip to a local dairy and many got seriously ill from casual contact with calves. Contact that would have had no affect on kids of my generation, but sent several of these youngsters to the hospital.
Kids of my generation grew up handling baby chicks and calves, eating vegetables we pulled up out of the garden, drinking raw milk, and licking the batter from cake bowls. And no, we didn't always wash our hands like we were supposed to. Most of us are still here. Something to think about.

 

[dave3877]

agree with all of yalkl. some people freak out about kids holding chicks but i think if you adapt them early they will learn to respect the little birds

 

[LarryPQ]

its just dirt, and dirt don't hurt?

It is hard to have fun when you are clean.