As the mother of an active and busy toddler, I am constantly looking for ways to keep my son content while also incorporating something educational into the experience. This is a daunting task to face each day. Last spring during a visit to my parent’s house out west, I was thrilled when my mom suggested we go to the zoo. My son was nearly eighteen months-old at the time and I knew he had the ability to absorb a large majority of the event. We were frequently reading, “Brown Bear” at the time along with additional books which incorporated animals into the stories. I was excited for my son to see the life-sized version of the animals that graced the pages of his colorful books. Also, it had been ages since I had been to the zoo and I was looking forward to seeing the animals and the venue I grew up visiting.

Our adventure got off to a great start with polar bears as the first exhibit after we entered the zoo’s large gates. My son was already very excited to be running around in an area that did not require stopping and looking for cars. Adding the drama of large, white, roaring bears rolling around in the water to cool off, really whipped him into a frenzy. He nearly squealed when I picked him up to get a better view of the noisy and playful bears. It was a breath-taking sight and absorbing the size and power of the bears seemed marvelous to both of us. We moved onto the monkey exhibit, which brought more excitement enhanced with laughter. As soon as my son saw the first monkey in the exhibit swinging from branch to branch, he began giggling. His giggling turned to laughter when he saw a monkey throw a toy at the window. This exhibit was most entertaining for my son as I think he actually connected with the monkeys on some level.

We eventually moved on from the monkeys and ventured into the large building that housed the reptiles. Before we entered, I remembered the great times I had as a kid watching snakes, large spiders, alligators and other creepy-crawlies safely behind glass where I could take in their movements and behaviors. I also remembered another aspect of the reptile house that was overwhelming as a kid; the smell!! I made a point to pay particular attention to my son’s face as we entered the building and were engulfed by the dank, pungent and musky odors that filled the tropical reptile environment. Right away, his nose and eyes crinkled up and his hand quickly pinched his nostrils. The odor turned out to be overwhelming for the little guy and we ended up having an abbreviated stay in the reptile house.

We then moved along to the ‘big ticket’ exhibits like the lions, tigers, giraffes, elephants and gorillas. I think my son and I were equally awe-struck by the size of each animal, their amazing colors and the loud sounds they were capable emitting. We watched in amazement as they ate, played, slept and frolicked in their man-made habitats. As we strolled through the zoo, I could not help but think about the fact that we were viewing animals in captivity, taken from their homes and natural surroundings. Unlike animals at the pet store, the animals at the zoo seemed very well taken care of and in a setting that tried to mimic their original environments. It made me realize how fortunate we were to have the opportunity to see animals from all over the globe in one convenient location.

I was particularly grateful to have the chance to visit a place that brought me great memories as a child and watch as my son took in the sights, sounds and smells of his first zoo visit. It was a fun and memorable experience that was filled with many lessons – for my son and me! I look forward to seeing how his outlook and reactions change when we visit the zoo as he grows up and further bonding with him as we view such incredible animals.

By Kirsten Goulet