VLM Gives Children A Hands-On Glimpse Into The Life of an Animal Keeper
A new exhibit at Virginia Living Museum in Newport News, Virginia, is providing young children an opportunity to experience what it is like to be an animal keeper or veterinarian while emphasizing healthy eating and living.
The hands-on exhibit “Wild & Well” is designated for children in preschool through third grade. It features a play kitchen area and a play vet area where children pretend to care for animals like the ones housed at the museum.
“The focus for Wild & Well came from seeing the real interest visitors of all ages had when they had a chance to see our keeper kitchen areas and vet care areas behind the scenes,” explains VLM Deputy Executive Director Fred Farris, who designed the permanent exhibit. “The varied and specific diets for each of our wild animals amaze people. Likewise, the types of treatments necessary to keep our many different animals healthy is impressive.”
While children pretend to feed a stuffed sea turtle, owl or wolf a special diet, or diagnose and treat an animal’s illness, they receive an education about their own health as well.
“By play acting the roles of animal keepers and veterinarians, kids transfer some of that experience to their own lives,” Farris points out. “By creating the specific diets for a particular animal, they will learn how healthy and varied that diet is. They will see as they work up these meals that there is no junk food, sweets or snacks in these wild animal diets. The kids will see that these animals eat healthier than they do. Likewise, when diagnosing these animals in the play vet clinic, they will understand better why they themselves need periodic check-ups on their health or
to treat a specific injury or illness.”
Response to the new exhibit has been positive. Heather Snead of Williamsburg, Virginia, says her 2-year-old son enjoyed it, particularly the play kitchen area, and is looking forward to a return visit.
“He was in food-making heaven,” Snead says. “I liked the variety of foods they have to help him learn more than what he sees on a normal basis at school and at home.”
Farris is pleased with the reaction to the exhibit, which was funded in part by Riverside Health System and an anonymous grant.
“By basing the content of the exhibit on the actual details of our own VLM keepers and vet staff, kids can also come to appreciate the valuable jobs these professionals perform and perhaps be inspired to someday work with wild animals,” Farris says.