Why are children attracted to animals in petting zoos? Is it because they are soft, docile, and affectionate? Or is it because petting zoos offer children an opportunity to do something unique and exciting: Interact with animals directly.
When you add a petting zoo to your next birthday party, church picnic, block party, or any other celebration, you can do more than just give kids a fun and exciting experience. You can also stimulate their intellectual curiosity and encourage them to start considering animals — and by extension, the world — in a bigger and more cognitive way.
Petting Zoos and Curiosity
Children are smaller versions of adults. They have daily routines, likes, and dislikes, and even problems just like grownups. But when something like a petting zoo is introduced into their world, it disrupts their everyday experience and gets them thinking in new and interesting ways.
They want to interact with the animals because they are cute and soft. But watch what happens next: Almost invariably, children will start asking questions. What do the animals eat? How old are they? What are their names? Where do they sleep?
You can almost see their imaginations and intellectual curiosity being aroused and their minds waking up and seeing the world around them differently.
Fun and Educational
So petting zoos add more than fun to celebrations. In many cases, they actually can be life-changing events for little kids. More than the traditional party games, sweet treats, and entertainment, petting zoos offer a tactile, interactive experience that can inspire and stimulate their imaginations.
Petting zoos are more than just another element of a birthday party or neighborhood celebration. They are an opportunity to learn and grow communally with others. For your next event, don’t just offer the same experience your guests will get everywhere else. Include a petting zoo that can make kids take notice, think, and grow intellectually and emotionally.
