When is it ok to expose children to live feeding ?

Hello
My son is 3 years old and shows a lot of interest in my hobby - ball pythons.
I have never exposed him to the feeding process because i don't want it to traumatize him.
My son loves all kinds of animals - cats, dogs, hamsters, rabbits and so on...
So my question is basically addressed to all the parents here:
When is it OK in your opinion to expose a child to the BP's feeding process ?
Any pointers from your own experience ?

Adi

I find that kids exposed to the circle of life early in life tend to be pretty darn well adjusted.

That said, I think you're going to have to use your own gut and judgement for your individual child.
I'm not a parent, but I help raise my sister who was born when I was 16. She's almost 4, and has seen live feeding. She's not traumatized.

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I think 3 is a little young to expose a kid to death just in general, it doesnt have to be particularly an animal eating another animal but this is on a case by case basis for sure. There are plenty of kids that are ready for that realization at 5 and there are plenty of adults which can't ever accept that reality.

I may not be the best person to answer because I am rather jaded on the topic.
But I think at 3 years old, a child is not going to associate a live feeding with death or understand the true meaning of death. They're not going to be traumatised because they don't know what's happening in my opinion.

I know 7 year olds who are fascinated with watching a snake feed. Yes, they're sad that the rat is gone, but they seem to understand enough at that age that a snake needs to eat certain things in order to live.

Maybe explain to your child verbally on how a snake eats first. If they can understand that and the process, maybe you can decided whether or not to visually show him. Perhaps start with a prekilled feeder.

But either way, I think its important to expose children to certain aspects of the process of life and death. I've noticed that truly sheltered people tend to be more ignorant, freak out, and stress more than average as young adults and adults regarding death.

Just my $.02

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there's no real blood and gore involved, so I think it wont be too traumatizing to see a mouse get swallowed whole..

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Originally Posted by satomi325

I may not be the best person to answer because I am rather jaded on the topic.
But I think at 3 years old, a child is not going to associate a live feeding with death or understand the true meaning of death. They're not going to be traumatised because they don't know what's happening in my opinion.

I know 7 year olds who are fascinated with watching a snake feed. Yes, they're sad that the rat is gone, but they seem to understand enough at that age that a snake needs to eat certain things in order to live.

Maybe explain to your child verbally on how a snake eats first. If they can understand that and the process, maybe you can decided whether or not to visually show him. Perhaps start with a prekilled feeder.

But either way, I think its important to expose children to certain aspects of the process of life and death. I've noticed that truly sheltered people tend to be more ignorant, freak out, and stress more than average as young adults and adults regarding death.

Just my $.02

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^ This, all the way. I received my first boa for my 4th birthday (obviously not the sole caretaker right away). If I loved my snake, he had to eat; nothing traumatizing about it.

I think it depends on your son. If he understands that snakes kill and eat whole prey and has seen documentaries of animals hunting in the wild and seems to be accepting of it he might be ready. If he gets very upset he might not be. You need to use your judgement as a parent.

I'm not sure what you feed your snakes but maybe start with pre-killed so he doesn't see a live animal killed. Then eventually when he understands what he's seeing he'll be ready to help feed live. That's kind of the route we will take approaching the matter when our son is old enough.

I also will stress with our son that it's important to respect the feeders and that it's not a joke that they give their lives to sustain another animal.

Good luck and props for raising a new herper :).

If you feed your kid meat they eventually figure out the animals have to die for them to eat. Hows a snake eating any different? Thats the way i see it lol.

Our culture in the US doesn't give kids enough credit, imo. They can handle a lot more than people think.

My son was exposed to feeding at 4, it didn't bother him, however he did have a lot of questions, which I happily answered. He isn't traumatized and we have switched to F/T and he feeds the snakes (with help of course). He finds it interesting and understands that everything has to eat something to survive. I think if there was a lot of blood involved there may have been an issue. I really do think it depends on the child though. When you think he is ready and you are willing to sit and talk and asnwer questions then all should be good.

I don't think its traumatic at all. If your child eats any kind of animal meat, just explain it like that. All creatures have to eat! Some just happen to eat other animals...