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Kids and Pets: Looking After a Gecko

afterschool learning for kids: looking after a gecko

We watched a friend’s Crested Gecko for a couple weeks, and the kids really enjoyed having him in the house! I had expected the novelty of having a gecko as a pet to wear off, but with my kids they became more attached to “Gecky” as time went by – especially 18-month-old Anna!

Learning about Geckos

learning by doing: taking care of a gecko

My kids learned a lot about crested geckos by observing Gecky. Their observations also led to questions, so we did some research to answer their questions. Gecky’s ability to walk on glass was particularly fascinating – and even more interesting once we read about it! Most animals that can walk on glass create a sticky substance that they use to hold on; geckos can walk on glass because of their very specialized feet! They use a combination of Van der Waals forces and friction to stay put – so they are able to walk across glass without leaving any evidence that they were there. Amazing!!!

hands-on biology for kids: looking after a gecko

If you look closely at the pictures, you will also notice that Gecky changes color! Gecky was usually green in the evening, and darker during the day. He would even change to a dark blue/purple color in the sunshine! Crested geckos also love to jump, so you have to be very careful when holding them.

Crested geckos are pretty large geckos – they grow from 8-10 inches long. We didn’t think to measure Gecky, but I think he was probably close to inches long if you include his tail. He was very easy to look after, and I know my kids would love to borrow him again!

Mike has too many allergies for us to have a dog, cat, or bird, but we could have a gecko or a fish. Do you have any pets?

afterschool linky

2014 After School Party HOSTS

The Educators’ Spin On It
Planet Smarty Pants
Boy Mama Teacher Mama
Coffee Cups and Crayons
Little Wonders’ Days
Mama Smiles
Relentlessly Fun, Deceptively Educational
The Measured Mom
This Reading Mama
What Do We Do All Day

What fun and educational after school activities did your family enjoy this week? Please share you elementary school aged activities in the linky below, remembering that by doing so you are giving the linky hosts permission to feature your post and to pin it to our After School Activities board on Pinterest. I enjoyed all of the spring-themed posts that were linked up last week, especially this Spring Flower Garden from Mothers Madness and this Hot Air Balloon Craft Tutorial from Cards, Crafts, Kids Projects.

MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.

18 thoughts on “Kids and Pets: Looking After a Gecko”

  1. What a fun learning experience. Very cool about walking on the glass! We have two dogs and I can’t imagine life without dogs, but they are a LOT of work!

  2. Natalie PlanetSmartyPants

    How fun! So far my husband doesn’t agree to a pet, but we are talking about getting fish for a start.

  3. Elisa | blissfulE

    How fascinating!! I wouldn’t mind a fish. We have friends who have a single fighting fish in an open, unadorned fish bowl on their kitchen bar counter, and to me that seems like an ideal pet situation. :)

    1. I have contemplated a fish, but the kids don’t seem too interested in non-cuddly pets so I think we’ll just borrow pets from friends occasionally for now.

  4. jeannine: waddleeahchaa

    After much begging we have not one but two scruffy little rescue dogs. The kiddos totally adore them!

    MacGyver also has a backyard science center (yes, we had to move it outside for my sanity) where he catches and observes creepy critters. He observes them for a while and then releases them. He even use his own money to buy them crickets. Both of the kids would love to have gecko! I’m not ready to add onto our responsibilities!

  5. How fun!! I also have allergies but my girls have been begging for a pet. I’ve been looking into hypoallergenic cats and we are considering a Bengal Cat (apparently there is a breeder in Zambia) but they are not completely hypoallergenic so I guess I’ll have to spend some time with one before we make any decisions. It would be much easier to just give geckos & millipedes temporary homes but they are hard to cuddle up to.

  6. We don’t have any pets (I can’ barely keep up with my plants) but once the kids are older I would love to have a pet. And yes smaller ones would be great to start off with! Looks like your kiddos had fun with a gecko!

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