In the U3 community, we have an aquarium for the classroom where the children can watch, feed, and help keep their home clean. Observing, caring for, and feeding living things teaches children compassion, respect, and patience. An easier-to-care-for pet like a fish is a great starting point for kids to learn more about their natural habitats, and even create bonds with them as they visit their finned friends each day. You could enlist a child’s help with cleaning the fish tank. Give them responsibilities that make sense for their age. A young child could simply watch and hand you the items you name and point to during water changes. Keeping an aquarium can teach students about responsibility and caretaking. It can also be therapeutic, lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety, and improve mood.
