PARENTING - ON DANGERS AND SAFETY

Knowledge can help!

Let's face it, the world is a dangerous place. Both in the wild and in the cities, our children can be exposed to all sorts of harmful things. As parents, our options are limited, but something must be done. Personally, I try to educate my @little-peppers and equip them with knowledge so that they can understand more about the world around them and know how to keep themselves safe.

PAPA SHARES ABOUT EDUCATION AND SAFETY

THE SCOPE AND APPLICATION

Though this particular vlog focused on being aware of dangerous animals in your local area, it applies to many other areas of parenting and keeping your children safe as well. For @papa-pepper, since we now live in an area where venomous snakes are spiders also live, I believe that my children need to know what they look like so they can identify them and avoid them.

Before we moved to Arkansas, when we were just visiting, I found a Black Widow Spider where @bluerthangreen was working. Like any good dad, I brought it back with me to show my wife and children. I wanted them to actually see one and understand what it was, why it was dangerous, and what it looked like.

Just a little while later, I was moving a stack of boards. Our oldest daughter, Pinkie-Pepper, alerted me and told me to look. Sure enough, right on the stack of boards I was carrying was a Black Widow. She sure applied that knowledge quick.

Here is Monster Truck the Pepper with a wild Black Rat Snake that he caught. None of my children are allowed to capture any wild snake on their own, and they are also not allowed to look for them. Even if they happen to find a nonvenomous snake, like this Black Rat Snake, and they know for sure that the snake is not venomous, they are not allowed to try to catch it.

However, if they are with me, and I deem the situation safe enough, I'll let them try if they want to. To allow them to see, understand, and interact with animals gives them a respect for the animals and an understanding of them that cannot be reproduced by a book or computer.

This snake skin was found in our garden last week. By looking at the pattern, we can tell that it is from a venomous Copperhead Snake. That means that in our garden, where we harvest some of our food, just twenty feet away from where we are staying, was a Copperhead.

For anyone that lives in an area with venomous snakes or spiders, you probably know that you could find one anywhere, even inside of your house. If you are able to accurately identify them, then you will be able to avoid making a foolish mistake. Interestingly enough, more than half of the Pygmy Rattlesnakes that I have captured and relocated were found by children. What a blessing it is that they know to tell Papa and not to mess with them.

Stay safe out there everyone. I hope that you enjoyed the video!