I always thought a trip to the zoo meant shuffling obediently from one wildlife habitat to the next, whining about having to go to the bathroom, and begging for a Sno-Cone. But now they've made it all fun and stuff, with rides and jungle gyms and a Ben & Jerry's stand every twenty feet. I don't know where they put the elephants.
We went last week and instead of feigning interest in some impossibly far off and partially obscured animals, J-dog and V-meister spent the afternoon frolicking and running away from me in the labyrinth-like play area. There was a jungle gym, a five-hundred foot long tunnel slide, and a swamp with a mechanical alligator that would periodically lunge out of the water to give me a heart attack.
But I had driven across town, parked three time zones away, and spent a bazillion dollars for an EDUMACATIONAL FIELD TRIP. We were going to see some animals if it was the last thing we ever did.
We located the "African Savannah" habitat and while I made a great show of ooo-ing and ah-ing over some baby giraffes, the V-meister fiddled with the brakes on J-dog's stroller and asked if it was time for ice cream yet. We got Sno-Cones and ate them near the "Savannah". While my daughter was busy trying to jerry-rig a coin operated view-finder, a flesh and blood giraffe walked by right under her unsuspecting nose.
Before I knew it, it was time to go home.
But I remember when the zoo was a place where you went just to see some animals and maybe climb on the big boulder over by the primate house. The gift shop was nothing but a tiki hut where they sold T-shirts, bumper stickers, and the occasional troll pencil. I also remember a time when the childrens' section at my local library had more books than toys, and when my backyard entertainment consisted of a ball, some dirt, and my own spit. And I think there's something to be said for that.
I'll bet my local art museum is the only holdout without an interactive "kid zone," a place where you might actually get Tasered for climbing into a display. And I rather like that. Because I don't think we're doing our children any favors by manufacturing all of their fun.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
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16 comments:
Hear, hear! And these field trips can be so damn stressful. Jeff and I both grew up far away from cities and the zoo was like a once-in-five-year (and thus always disappointing overhyped) treat. Now we live a half mile from the Seattle zoo and are "members." Our son is like, giraffes, gorillas, blah blah.
Here's to spit, sticks and daydreams!
Oh wow! I just posted tonight about the wholesomeness of camping with your kids!
So right. Although, our yearly family zoo membership is less than $100 and the zoo is less then 5 miles from my house, and that jungle gym thing can come in handy.
Do they make curmudgeon cards? I want one for my wallet.
You make me feel all nostalgic for the days of my youth spent playing with dirt. Seriously.
you make some excellent points here, but i have to say... i love the play areas at our zoo. they are spread out enough that we see just enough animals, then take a short play break, and keep moving. I could do without the begging for the carousel ride, though MQ likes the animals, and her mommy and daddy are positive geeks for them (we've been members of every zoo every place we've lived, even before becoming parents)
I agree with you 100%. No curmudgeon you. And...we have plenty of spit and dirt over here in our backyard. Come play!
I think I need one of those cards. I routinely toss Silas out the door with a garden shovel and a toy dump truck. He keeps himself occupied for hours playing in the dirt.
The last time we went to the zoo, my daughter feigned fatigue and hid in the rented stroller, until we got to the ginormous, pirate ship and tree house festooned play area. Only the siren song of Dippin' Dots could lure her out. A free range peacock walked right in front of her and she couldn't have cared less.
Sigh.
Team curmudgeon here!
I hear you sister! What ever happened to imagination? And Imaginary friends for that matter..
Yeah we went the zoo awhile back and the only thing he was vaguely interested in was the playground. So we'll be skipping the zoo for many moons until someone starts demanding actual live animals.
Official co-member of the Curmudgeon Club reporting for duty, ma'am.
Can you find some bugs in your backyard, make some popcorn, and call it the zoo? Or would that warp them for life...
From one fellow curmudgeon (I LURVE that word) to another, welcome to the club.
*insert secret handshake*
You are so right.
A-the-Frick-MEN. I am THISCLOSE to telling my children that only stupid people get bored if I hear "I'm bored" when they don't have their fun brought right to them.
Jen M
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