"I Like Bats, Skunks and Spiders"
by Priscilla Woyke, Director of Early Childhood Development

"I like bats and skunks and spiders; … That's why they call me a nature lover."

These are the words to a popular song often sung at the Beginner's Nature Program Preschool and the New Canaan Nature Center's Summer Camp.

While we don't have bats and skunks in our preschool classrooms, we do offer children opportunities to interact with lots of other animals during their time at the Nature Center. Starting with our 2-year olds in the popular "Mom and me" Nurturing Nature Program and also in our preschool classrooms, we encourage children to be aware of the animals in their classes. Our rooms are filled with a variety of guinea pigs, snails, hermit crabs, frogs, and Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches. In addition to the classroom animals, the Nature Center's teaching animals - including owls, hawks, turtles, snakes, an opossum, ferrets, hedgehogs, lizards and other creatures-make frequent appearances in the classrooms, accompanied by a Nature Center Naturalist.

Why is it important to have animals in the classrooms? One reason is curiosity. Curiosity is the key to learning; it provides children with the incentive to investigate the world. Children are naturally fascinated by animals, and take time out to observe the animal characteristics and behavior. They ask questions about the animals in their classrooms and want to become involved in their care and feeding.

There is, of course, a larger lesson as well. We at the Nature Center believe it is valuable to teach children that they share a world with other beings that might have similar needs to theirs. Involvement in the care of other living things fosters a sense of stewardship, responsibility, empathy and respect. It helps children develop self-confidence and it encourages a positive attitude toward the natural world.

The ways in which children in the Beginner's Nature Program interact with their classroom animals are various and imaginative. They bring the animals food from their homes. They help clean their cages. They hold snail races on tabletops and build mazes and houses in the block area for the guinea pigs. On a daily basis they hold, nurture and care for the animals. These experiences are both fun and rewarding. Children learn about the natural life cycle of living things and, more importantly, come away with a sense of respect, understanding and appreciation for all living creatures.

For information about openings in the Beginner's Nature Program preschool and Nurturing Nature, contact Mrs. Woyke at 966-9577, ext 16.