Children Get Lesson About Mother Nature

Why are animals such a source of wonderment to young children?

Bernice Lieberman, children services director at North Valley Jewish Community Center in Granada Hills, says that it is a child’s natural curiosity and desire to touch the furry, feathery and, in some cases, slithery creatures.

When animal trainers at Six Flags Magic Mountain brought exotic birds, reptiles and mammals from the Valencia amusement park, the center’s preschool children, ages 2 to 5, gave the guests their undivided attention.

“It’s an opportunity for the children to see exotic animals that they hardly get to see up close,” said Lieberman, adding that Magic Mountain has brought animals to the center every year since 1985.

The children got a close-up look at a talking umbrella cockatoo from Australia, a European ferret, a boa constrictor and a blue macaw from South America, and a red-tailed hawk and opossum from North America, presented to them by animal trainers Holly Mandelkow and Ingrid Russell-Allsbury.

Narrations by animal trainer Jennifer Smith, who led the presentation, emphasized the importance of respecting animals in the wild. Smith also talked about the need for adopting pets from animal shelters and recycling.

“Since they’re young children, we try not to drown them with too much information--just little blurbs here and there,” Smith said.

Despite the presence of wild animals, the show-stopper was a mixed-breed dog named “Diego,” who was obtained from the Pasadena Humane Society.

Diego performed tricks, including the part of Gotham City crime fighter “Batdog,” that elicited laughter and “ooohs” from the audience.