Octopus and Squid

[Blackcat31]

Livid? hmmm I would assume your child would only attend a vegetarian daycare so they didn't see hot dogs in the fridge or lunch meat. Nothing against vegetarians, we eat meat, but believe in having respect for your food ie. if you wouldn't kill it yourself (hunting, buying an animal we have met from a 4h friend, fishing etc) you don't get to eat it.

I see the PP point.

A dead animal in it's entirety is a lot different than seeing an animal by-product.

I remember the look on my DD's face when she was preschool age when she found out where some of her favorite foods (hamburgers, bacon, chicken nuggets) actually came from.....

[Baby Beluga]

Thank you everyone for your differing views - that is what I was looking for! I do know that none of my families are vegetarians. I also want to add that I do use beans/rice/flour as a sensory items and have had a parent bring in extra large vegetables to use as sensory activities too. I know they are okay with food being explored but I realize this situation may be different because the animal was once alive. The children have in the past explored sea stars, sand dollars and the like which were also once alive.

I would cook it afterwards and serve it for lunch just to show how gross it is to eat! j/k. I don't eat sea food at all! I think it would be appropriate to buy them to show what a real one looks like. I think it is no different than bringing in any animal, the only difference is that it is dead and not alive. But what a great learning experience, being able to look at the tentacles and mouth and explore while learning. I think it is like in science class when you dissect a frog or whatever except you are not looking at the insides (I hope!!)

That is what I was going for. Taking the children to an aquarium is not possible (I don't transport and the nearest one is 1 hour away). At what other time will they have the opportunity to look at and touch a sea animal like that? I do plan on asking families just to make sure I am not offending anyone's personal viewpoints.

[BabyMonkeys]

A dead animal in it's entirety is a lot different than seeing an animal by-product.

Yeah, that would be my main opposition. I know I am the odd one out, you just never know what one parent may have a fit about that seems so innocent.

[Baby Beluga]

Just thought I would update this. All of my parents were okay with their children being exposed to an octopus, and all of the children loved it! Some were super brave and touched and held the animal while others just wanted to look. But everyone was certainly intrigued

[Controlled Chaos]

Just thought I would update this. All of my parents were okay with their children being exposed to an octopus, and all of the children loved it! Some were super brave and touched and held the animal while others just wanted to look. But everyone was certainly intrigued

Thanks for the update! I was thinking about this post just the other day 😃