Daycare Pets and Other Science Concepts

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  • permanentvacation
    Advanced Daycare.com Member
    • Jun 2011
    • 2461

    Daycare Pets and Other Science Concepts

    I am trying to add to my daycare and get away from just having plastic toys. I'm considering getting a daycare pet or two. You all know I don't have much money, so the pets have to be very affordable! I was thinking hermit crabs and fish. Do any of you have pets specifically for daycare (not your family dog or cat)? What type of pets do you have and what are the pros and cons of having that pet for daycare?
  • Jack Sprat
    New Daycare.com Member
    • Jul 2013
    • 882

    #2
    We have a beta named Betty. She is just a daycare pet. The kids like to feed her and watch her dart around.

    We have had other fish but, they died and flushing them down the toilet while saying what we loved about them was the favorite topic for weeks.

    We also had a hermit crab. He died too and was rather boring.

    In the summer we bring in locust, praying mantis and other things we find outdoors. We have an aquarium that they live in. Our praying mantis lived for 4 months which was great as they don't have a long life span.

    Comment

    • permanentvacation
      Advanced Daycare.com Member
      • Jun 2011
      • 2461

      #3
      In the past, my personal children have owned hermit crabs, turtles, and hamsters. My ex-husband and I had fish. So, I know how to take care of a variety of animals.

      I also know I want to get a couple of plants for the daycare. Anyone have any suggestions on good, sturdy, non-poisonous, kid friendly indoor plants?

      I think I'm going to see if I can find some bigger rocks, like Geodes and the different types of rocks. My father used to be a truck driver and he would bring back all kinds of stuff from his trips. When I was young, I really liked the different colored geodes he would bring home. He also had a run once near where Mt. St. Helen erupted and brought back some volcanic ash. I thought that was the coolest thing!

      Comment

      • Shell
        Daycare.com Member
        • Jul 2013
        • 1765

        #4
        I've had fish- I find cleaning the tanks to be a pain and a bit slimy. In the future, I would consider a beta because it is less maintenance.
        I've had a hamster- loved him- was a bit expensive buying that recycled fluffy bedding, food is affordable though. I was very sad when the hamster passed though- lives on average 3 years.
        I've had hermit crabs and frogs that all died in a short time frame.
        Butterflies that you send away for are fantastic- but obviously that only lasts a few weeks from caterpillar to adult- but very cool.

        My suggestions: beta fish or a class plant (that sounds easy and good to me :.

        Comment

        • daycare
          Advanced Daycare.com *********
          • Feb 2011
          • 16259

          #5
          I don't recommend a hamster....most of them are not very nice or easy to handle. Plus they smell bad, up all night long on that wheel I wanted to throw out the window and the only thing they are really good at is pooping.....

          Fish are great, I like them the most of all the pets we have had

          growing tadpoles are super fun and super awesome. it takes time and a lot of tadpoles, but we did it and the kids thought that it was the most amazing thing ever. We let them go once they were frogs, that was too messy after that. Hard to feed and hopped out of the tank a few times, that was fun...NOT

          I have never owed a tank turtle, but I hear a lot of them are poisonous, but I believe anything I hear.


          every spring we do do butterflies. go to carolina science supplies, they send you the larva and in weeks you have beautiful butterflies to release. Word of caution, if you get too many female in a batch they will start to kill each other and create a blood bath scene. So I would say give them about two days after coming out of their cocoon and then release them.

          That's all ive got. I like the seasonal stuff that you only have to care for temp. Besides the fish.

          We leave to go on vactaion or are gone for extended periods, I didn't want to have to think of another animal to find care for.

          Comment

          • daycarediva
            Daycare.com Member
            • Jul 2012
            • 11698

            #6
            We have a glow fish, a cricket house, an ant farm, a worm farm and a gecko.. I really want a spider, that may be the next addition.

            The preschoolers have jobs related to the pets-which they love.

            Our snake cage used to be in the daycare space, but we had to upgrade because he outgrew his other cage and it's just too big.

            In the summer we raise butterflies and release them.

            We start our garden indoors every year and grow plants. Right now we are growing a (secret) bulb in a clear vase (so we can see the roots). It's a hyacinth, and I have a book that I put together about 5 possible flowers. They are narrowing their guesses down as the flower grows. 1 they were able to eliminate right away (sunflower) as they grow from seeds and this is a bulb.

            They are very educational. Some of the vocabulary words we have picked up and are used in regular conversation are; insectivore, exoskeleton, nocturnal, slimy, miniscule, etc.

            They are all on one bookshelf, with the rest of our science stuff. Magnifying glasses, beakers, scales. I also really want a microscope, they have them for kids that I've been eyeing.

            I like science.

            Comment

            • Unregistered

              #7
              We have a tank of tropical fish & shrimp. We used to have aquatic frogs in the aquarium but licensing has outlawed any frogs because of salmonella. (I mentioned to them that aquatic frogs live in the water, but they just said no. No frogs of any kind.) The frogs added a lot of life to the tank because they swim up and down and play a lot of funny games. I would highly recommend adding them to your aquarium if they are allowed in your area. These are not land frogs, and they are not African Clawed Frogs. They are small aquatic frogs, the body is about 1/2" long and they get along well in an aquarium of fish.
              Fish are a science project, a calming area, a place to learn colors, size, spatial concepts. All kinds of good learning there.

              Comment

              • daycare
                Advanced Daycare.com *********
                • Feb 2011
                • 16259

                #8
                Originally posted by daycarediva
                We have a glow fish, a cricket house, an ant farm, a worm farm and a gecko.. I really want a spider, that may be the next addition.

                The preschoolers have jobs related to the pets-which they love.

                Our snake cage used to be in the daycare space, but we had to upgrade because he outgrew his other cage and it's just too big.

                In the summer we raise butterflies and release them.

                We start our garden indoors every year and grow plants. Right now we are growing a (secret) bulb in a clear vase (so we can see the roots). It's a hyacinth, and I have a book that I put together about 5 possible flowers. They are narrowing their guesses down as the flower grows. 1 they were able to eliminate right away (sunflower) as they grow from seeds and this is a bulb.

                They are very educational. Some of the vocabulary words we have picked up and are used in regular conversation are; insectivore, exoskeleton, nocturnal, slimy, miniscule, etc.

                They are all on one bookshelf, with the rest of our science stuff. Magnifying glasses, beakers, scales. I also really want a microscope, they have them for kids that I've been eyeing.

                I like science.
                I so want to steal this from you....can you share more with me....this sounds so amazing a boy oh boy do you have some pets going on.

                Comment

                • nothingwithoutjoy
                  Daycare.com Member
                  • May 2012
                  • 1042

                  #9
                  We borrowed some hermit crabs once, and found them boring because they're nocturnal.

                  Once we had a guinea pig in the classroom I used to teach in. I did not want a guinea pig--until we got one. I found it to be surprisingly friendly and intelligent and fun. The kids loved it.

                  Comment

                  • Annalee
                    Daycare.com Member
                    • Jul 2012
                    • 5864

                    #10
                    Originally posted by permanentvacation
                    I am trying to add to my daycare and get away from just having plastic toys. I'm considering getting a daycare pet or two. You all know I don't have much money, so the pets have to be very affordable! I was thinking hermit crabs and fish. Do any of you have pets specifically for daycare (not your family dog or cat)? What type of pets do you have and what are the pros and cons of having that pet for daycare?
                    I have a beta fish. We have to have a living thing to meet QRIS....Many have plants or hermit crab....some providers have rabbits..

                    Comment

                    • Sunshine74
                      Daycare.com Member
                      • Oct 2012
                      • 546

                      #11
                      One pet I would definitely NOT recommend is a turtle. We had two at our daycare for years, and they were more trouble and expense then anything else. And they smelled pretty bad.

                      I think a betta fish is a great idea. They are inexpensive and easy to take care of. And their colors are so pretty. If you are thinking of a mammal, maybe a rat would work. I've heard they are very friendly and intelligent. I've always wanted one.

                      Comment

                      • AuntTami
                        Daycare.com Member
                        • Oct 2014
                        • 891

                        #12
                        We actually have a bunny. We got her for a personal pet to be friends with our existing rabbit but she was too mean to the poor thing, so I moved her to the daycare room. The bedding is the most expensive thing. We buy a huge bag of food that lasts forever and she gets any scrap veggies we have- left over lettuce, tomatoes etc.
                        the kids LOVE her. She's still very young and my kids are young so I hold her and let everyone pet her so they don't squeeze her too hard. She's litter box trained so sometimes I bring her out and make everyone sit down in our play area and let her hop around. If anyone gets up, bunny time is over because I don't want her stepped on or someone to fall on her.
                        She's super sweet! She's been handled since day 1 so she loves to be held and petted. She usually curls up right under my chin and is happy to stay there until everyone is done petting her! Her name is "pip" haha

                        Comment

                        • Second Home
                          Daycare.com Member
                          • Jan 2014
                          • 1567

                          #13
                          I have had many class pets.

                          Hamsters and gerbils bite , so those were a watch only type of pet . And they draw blood and hang on when they bite so not good with little ones who can't not touch.

                          G-pigs were great , they are very vocal and the kids loved giving carrots , they do not bite as easily as the smaller pocket pets . They do need a bigger cage than what most pet stores sell though and like to be in pairs .

                          Fish were nice , we had a small 10 gallon tank .

                          We have done the butterflies . they were ok but since you have to release them not fun when the kids cry .

                          We have a gecko now and while she is cool she is nocturnal so the kids only see her in the morning before she crawls back into her house .

                          I do plan on getting chickens ( hopefully in the next few weeks ) , that is my new project .

                          Comment

                          • Baby Beluga
                            Daycare.com Member
                            • Aug 2014
                            • 3891

                            #14
                            We have a beta fish the kids named Nemo - he hangs on the wall. He is low enough so the children can feed and watch him but him being on the wall prevents him from being knocked over. The kids love it.

                            Pros: The fish is pretty cheap. The water conditioner was $3, food was $3 (both will last well over a year) fish was $4 and the tank was $20. The kids love feeding him, he eats twice a day once in the morning and evening. Maintenance is pretty easy.



                            picture upload

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                            • Heidi
                              Daycare.com Member
                              • Sep 2011
                              • 7121

                              #15
                              We have a 10 gallon tank with 3 gold fish. They don't really need a fancy tank, but because I have toddlers I wasn't comfortable with a glass bowl. A heavy tank is a better option there.

                              We go looking for milkweed with monarch larvae in the spring, and just bring a few in to hatch (last time I used a glass cookie jar and just opened it for air for a minute every day).

                              A great science and math activity is to have everyone guess how many days the it will take for the crysalis to hatch. We documented a lot. You could have the kids draw what they see, take pictures, and then take pictures when you set them free. Great for a parent bulletin board or your FB page, too!

                              Don't forget a bird feeder right outside your window! The kids could make some, too, with peanut butter and bird seed. Then, watch for birds, document which ones you see, etc. I got this book, and it's probably our favorite of all the books we have.

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