Knowledge can help!
Let's face it, the world is a dangerous place. Both in the wild and in the cities, our children can be exposed to all sorts of harmful things. As parents, our options are limited, but something must be done. Personally, I try to educate my @little-peppers and equip them with knowledge so that they can understand more about the world around them and know how to keep themselves safe.
PAPA SHARES ABOUT EDUCATION AND SAFETY
THE SCOPE AND APPLICATION
Though this particular vlog focused on being aware of dangerous animals in your local area, it applies to many other areas of parenting and keeping your children safe as well. For @papa-pepper, since we now live in an area where venomous snakes are spiders also live, I believe that my children need to know what they look like so they can identify them and avoid them.
Before we moved to Arkansas, when we were just visiting, I found a Black Widow Spider where @bluerthangreen was working. Like any good dad, I brought it back with me to show my wife and children. I wanted them to actually see one and understand what it was, why it was dangerous, and what it looked like.
Just a little while later, I was moving a stack of boards. Our oldest daughter, Pinkie-Pepper, alerted me and told me to look. Sure enough, right on the stack of boards I was carrying was a Black Widow. She sure applied that knowledge quick.
Here is Monster Truck the Pepper with a wild Black Rat Snake that he caught. None of my children are allowed to capture any wild snake on their own, and they are also not allowed to look for them. Even if they happen to find a nonvenomous snake, like this Black Rat Snake, and they know for sure that the snake is not venomous, they are not allowed to try to catch it.
However, if they are with me, and I deem the situation safe enough, I'll let them try if they want to. To allow them to see, understand, and interact with animals gives them a respect for the animals and an understanding of them that cannot be reproduced by a book or computer.
This snake skin was found in our garden last week. By looking at the pattern, we can tell that it is from a venomous Copperhead Snake. That means that in our garden, where we harvest some of our food, just twenty feet away from where we are staying, was a Copperhead.
For anyone that lives in an area with venomous snakes or spiders, you probably know that you could find one anywhere, even inside of your house. If you are able to accurately identify them, then you will be able to avoid making a foolish mistake. Interestingly enough, more than half of the Pygmy Rattlesnakes that I have captured and relocated were found by children. What a blessing it is that they know to tell Papa and not to mess with them.
Stay safe out there everyone. I hope that you enjoyed the video!
here's the proof:As always, I'm @papa-pepper and
proof-of-danger
Until next time…
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Good job @papa-pepper at having your kids involved with all your wildlife activities.
Your 4 year old son definitely has more guts than me, I don't like snakes at all, but that is probably due to not knowing the species that good.
It's true what you said them knowing the species can even help others having an extra pair of eyes. As well as good bonding time between parents and their young ones.
Good to see the little guy has such good reflexes, he fell of the chair and manage to land in such a manner as to not hurt the poor snake.
Yeah, he fell right out of that chair and never hurt the snake or let it go! He did well!
I agree we went on a wetland tour once. Was interesting how the soil was more fertile there. Wetlands are crucial. I'm just curious how long do you have to live if you get bitten by a copperhead?
The rest of your life.
Actually, Copperhead bites are rarely fatal for adults, they are more like terrible bee stings with worse results.
We have them here in South Africa too I think.
Hi @pjcswart. I don't think South Africa has copperheads, but we do have other very poisonous snakes.
That is one of the reasons why I stay well clear of snakes, mostly because all the stories you hear from people. I think if I knew the species little better, I might have trusted snakes a little more.
I do however try and avoid the snakes as much as possible and don't just go out and hurt them like most people do. I normally try and get some of the neighbors to help catch and release the snake into the bushes.
Thanks for your comment. I am pretty scared of snakes. Reptiles in general I guess. I wonder what it must have been like to live among the dinosaurs.
Hah! I'm glad your kid illustrated that there are more dangers than just wild critters. I've been known to tip back a chair or two in my day. I'm glad he was able to maintain control over the snake!
Good stuff Mr. P!
We've watched that part so many times. It's hilarious, but he did do a good job!
Thumbs up @papa-pepper! Great post on parenting. This reminded me of a great quote that I would like to share with all through this commenting thread:
By the way, I checked @little-peppers profile for the very first time. Thanks for sharing.
I like that.
Heavens, you have to get used to it because you live in an area where there are snakes etc. Here in France, we have also snakes, they like to hide in the piles of wood we have over here because here we only have wood to burn in our stoves.
But I'm happy to say that they are not as dangerous as the snakes you describe in your post.
You are very wise to learn your children how to deal with the snakes, they will never forget your lessons and act accordingly.
As born in a city in the Netherlands, I'm not used to snakes so I'm very careful when we are in our house in France. But living in the country makes me so happy. We live here around 6 months a year, the other 6 months we live in Rotterdam in the Netherlands and enjoy the city. I don't have to choose but when it would come to that, I prefer the countryside.
Thank you again for your educational posts.
Have a good day, Clio
We went on a hiking trip once in South Africa and there was a scorpion in the wood at night when we made fire. Scary black thing!!! 😀
I remember a man who came from Florida talking about why he taught his babies to swim. Because there is water everywhere Florida, there's no way to protect a child from all the possible drowning hazards, he said.
"I can't just protect them: I have to drown-proof my kids," he concluded.
This idea crosses the whole parenting spectrum - to teach rather than just try to remove danger. Protection is good and necessary, but you have to be teaching while protecting or when protection isn't complete (and can it ever be?), there has to be a safety net.
I've never been fast enough to even catch the garter snakes, Monster Pepper. Good job on the rat snake catch!
Interesting. I agree, teach and protect.
Let me watch it later when I get home.
ok.
I think that you'll enjoy it!
Exactly, The time has passed is the only one in this World that can not be bought. so avoiding dangerous things and inserting something good for the future is a wise choice
Yeah I guess so.
I agree! You educate so they can know and respect what that creature can do for the area! Great job @papa-pepper, your rocking it...
Thank you for your ongoing encouragement!
And Thank You for all you are doing, yes I am a watcher....
Well Done little-pepper, You will be the next star.
Maybe there are more dangerous things. But also maybe more wonderful things. Thanks for connecting. I hope you have a WONDERFUL day!! 😀
Knowledge is half the battle.
That was most excellent. I wish every parent would take the time and energy to educate their kids on their own surroundings and things they may encounter. In the city or in the country, there are always things that we need to watch for.
It says a lot for you as a parent to watch Monster Truck sitting with a snake coiled around his arm, but, what really impressed me was the gentle demeanor in which he was petting the snake, which was not agitated at all. Kudos to both you and him.
The black widows are the scariest to me. They are such a pretty looking spider, which defies her intent. I taught my kids early on about them too because they show up in the weirdest places - and times.
Awesome vlog and post. Keep on steemin and I'll keep reading it.
Upvoted and Resteemed
Respect for what you know and how you teach your children what to do. This is serious business. Agree on "grown up with it" means to instruct and tell others ,.. , but its hard to magine how to handle if you are not used to see such animals in your neighbourhood.
nice tips, not upvoted because u don't need it...
The spiders and snakes are scary: (((We need to protect the kids @papa-pepper..But I agree with you need to teach your child knowledge
I wish I'd have had a dad like you...my childhood would have been so much more enjoyable if I had. :D
Another wonderful post, well done goes to your son, Monster Truck the Pepper, for a safe and masterfully completed capture. :D
Don't reckon there's much more important than this particular responsibility as a parent.
Good on 'ya!
This is really helpful and even the pics used will aid memorability. .. Exposure is a good knowledge to equip one's children with and this is exactly how I will raise my children when I have them. I wasn't lucky enough to be brought up that way, I was always locked indoors and even till now I having difficulty crossing roads even when it's not busy. ND I am 21. So, this article is very useful to me. Thanks @papa-pepper
Very smart to educate your kids on those dangers... it will definitely help them be more aware and smarter when they do come across a dangerous situation.
Hi @papa-pepper i am glad to learn how proper parenting is supposed to be done eventhough i am not a parent myself ,indeed teaching your children how to interact with different animals is a cool idea anyway that wild animals can be dangerous in one way or another moreover this is a life skill that no school or any book can teach to our children out there in the society we are living in today except through experience,so i am calling all parents on #Steemit Blockchain Network to kindly read this post and appreciate it,lastly thank you mr papa for this post and keep posting such good content stuff on Steemit.
Nice job teach! The little peppers got your back!
That is great! He fell out of the chair, but didn't drop the snake! He held on like a champ! LOL
It is really good that you are teaching your children about safety with wild creatures, @papa-pepper. It is better to be safe than sorry. There are a lot of dangerous things on a homestead beside wild creatures great and small. It is best to each them when they are young so they know what the dangers are and they can handle them without panicking and perhaps causing more problems.
This is absolutely brilliant, especially the part where Pepper Jnr falls off the chair without losing control of The Snake Situation :o) You can tell him he's my hero for that one! (And the cutest little guy to boot, but probably don't tell him that bit - I don't want to make him feel self-conscious!) xx
Thanks. That part is hilarious!
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Wow! Your kid is very brave to carry a snake like that! Even its not a venomous snake, im going to jump from my feet, and run as fast as i can! 😂. Thanks @papa-pepper for that very helpful tips 😊. Resteemed.
Very good @papa-pepper . . I like your post 👏👏👏
Love what you are doing with the family man, keep up the good work! May look like this is dangerous but far less than living in a dirty city. Awesome post.