While babysitting my friend’s daughters a few weeks ago, I had
the opportunity to give them a mni lesson in marine biology.
the opportunity to give them a mni lesson in marine biology.
“What’s that?” the two -year-old asked, pointing at one of Mila’s toys.
“That’s a puffer fish,” I told her. “It’s for Mila to
play with while she takes a bath.”
play with while she takes a bath.”
“What’s a pufflefish?” asked the four-year-old.
As I fumbled to try to explain, I realized it would be
easier to just show them. “Come over here and we’ll find a video so you can
see,” I said, grabbing my laptop.
easier to just show them. “Come over here and we’ll find a video so you can
see,” I said, grabbing my laptop.
The girls snuggled up next to me on the couch while I pulled
up YouTube and did a quick search. We spent the next few minutes engrossed in
clips of various puffer fish inflating and deflating and
cavorting about their tanks. Like so:
up YouTube and did a quick search. We spent the next few minutes engrossed in
clips of various puffer fish inflating and deflating and
cavorting about their tanks. Like so:
“Why is he doing that?” the four-year-old demanded.
“He’s trying to protect himself,” I replied. “He thinks the big fish
might eat him, so he’s pretending to be really big and scary so everyone will
leave him alone.”
might eat him, so he’s pretending to be really big and scary so everyone will
leave him alone.”
“Oh.” She thought for a moment. “That’s a good idea. I bet
the other fishes are scared when he gets big and pokey like that.”
the other fishes are scared when he gets big and pokey like that.”
“Again!” shouted the two-year-old.
So we watched it again. And I felt so proud of myself for
creating an educational moment instead of just dismissing their curiosity.
creating an educational moment instead of just dismissing their curiosity.
Except now I need to teach them something new, because whenever
they come over the first thing they want to do is watch “the pufflefish movie.” Now I love me a good pufflefish as much as the next guy, but really. It’s getting old.
they come over the first thing they want to do is watch “the pufflefish movie.” Now I love me a good pufflefish as much as the next guy, but really. It’s getting old.
oh my god how awesome! i bet you totally made those little girls day! is it silly of me to have thought they just blew up at once, not the squirmy way they do it here. i blame finding nemo haha
http://nuhasofiyan.blogspot.com
I kind of wish they did just PFOOF! puff up at once. It would be a lot more entertaining, that's for sure.