Yes Virginia, there is such a thing as Monsters

The last few nights we’ve been struggling with a little boy who hasn’t want to go to bed because he’s afraid there are monsters in his closet.  We’ve been explaining to him that monsters are just fun creatures made up in stories like Elmo and Telly in Sesame Street or Henry in Disney’s new Henry Hugglemonster.  Our hope had been that he’d associate monsters with fuzzy funny characters that he might dream about versus creepy crawlies that would give him nightmares  making it easier for us to get him to let us turn his bedroom light off and allow everyone in the family to get back to getting a good night’s rest.  Then as we were in the middle of the “monster in the closet” problem with our son the Boston Marathon bombing occurred.  The horrific incident that occurred on April 15^th in Boston made me think that while it was important for me to have my son understand that while the “Where the Wild Things Are” type monsters are fantasy creations that he also beware that our world is filled with some very real “monsters”.

In one of the most famous newspaper editorials of all time, Francis Pharcellus Church tells 8 year old Virginia O’Hanlon in the September 21, 1897 edition ofthe New York Sun that “Yes Virginia , there is a Santa Claus.  He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist …. “   Unfortunately, in that same context I have to say that there are monsters and they are very real.  They may not have horns, or fangs, or claws and may look just look like an average person like you or I look in the mirror, but as long as there are people who are willing to inflict harm or kill others without remorse than monsters truly exist in our world.

I remember as a child myself how our community was filled with terror as parents warned us never to talk to strangers and stay close to home as the Oakland County Child Killer abducted, molested and murdered four children during a 13 month period.   The other big danger of my youth, that looking back appears to be more of an urban myth than a reality, but lead to real hysteria in the town I grew up in was the fear of monsters putting razor blades and other metal objects in Halloween candy.  I remember anxiously standing in long lines waiting for the police to x-ray and run my trick-or-treat candy through a metal detector before I could dig into it.  Looking at that now not very sure how safe eating that irradiated candy might have been but I’m glad my parents cared enough to want to safeguard me by going through the effort.  These were terrible things for parents to have to safeguard their children from but at least there were reasonable precautions that could be taken that could give responsible families reasonable assurances of safety.

As a parent now, I look at the horrific tragedies that have occurred in just the last few months: 12 people killed & 58 injured in a movie theater shooting near Denver; a mass murder at an elementary school in Connecticut that killed 20 kindergarteners and six teachers; 3 killed and more than a hundred people wounded at the Boston Marathon.  How do you educate your children that while there aren’t monsters lurking in their closet they could very well be lurking in your neighborhood without scaring the hell out of them to the point they never want to leave your house again? 

 In this post 911 world we live in  an era that there are dangers that are out of our control to avoid, but what is under our control is whether or not we continue to live our lives as we wish or shelter ourselves away in fear.  Also it is important to remember that despite all the attention horrible crimes receive it is still far more likely that your family will be victimized by a pedophile or drunk driver than a terrorist or mass murderer.  So my goal as a parent is to make sure that my kids live the life they want to lead by making sure they understand there are “monsters” among us and you need not be afraid but you do need to be vigilant all the time to possible dangers.  It appears that the steps that my parents took to protect me are still the right actions in today’s era: promote an understanding of “stranger danger”, make sure your child respects their body not allowing “bad touching”, and that you are actively involved with your child keeping tabs on where they are and what they are up to.

According to the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), the best way parents can protect their children is to teach them to be wary of potentially dangerous situations so they are prepared to deal with strangers as well as known adults who may not have good intentions.  What else can a parent do, here are a few more tips from the NCPC:

·         Know where your children are at all times. Make it a rule that your children must ask permission or check in with you before going anywhere. Give your children your work and cell phone numbers so they can reach you at all times.

·         Point out safe places. Show your children safe places to play, safe roads and paths to take, and safe places to go if there’s trouble.

·         Teach children to trust their instincts. Explain that if they ever feel scared or uncomfortable, they should get away as fast as they can and tell an adult. Tell them that sometimes adults they know may make them feel uncomfortable, and they should still get away as fast as possible and tell another adult what happened. Reassure children that you will help them when they need it.

·         Teach your children to be assertive. Make sure they know that it’s okay to say no to an adult and to run away from adults in dangerous situations.

·         Encourage your children to play with others. There’s safety in numbers!

For more tips and information from the NCPC on helping your children be prepared for dangerous situations and emergencies visit, www.ncpc.org/topics

 Also keep mind that news coverage of traumatic events like the Boston Marathon Bombing can cause distress to children and impact them as if they were a part of the tragedy.  The DART CENTER FOR JOURNALISM& TRAUMA has researched the topic and found that children are attentive to media coverage of mass tragedies and the negative impact that results from this viewing consumption is a vital public health concern.

The New York City Health Department has issued a warning that repeated viewing of media reports of traumatic events can upset and negatively impact children.  They have provided a chart on how media reports are seen through the eyes of children:

Ages 6 & Younger

• Believe what they are seeing is happening LIVE while they are watching it;
• They believe the traumatic event is happening over and over again when they see repeated images of it;
• Find images of people suffering, crying or being attacked very upsetting

Ages 7 – 10

• Understand news is made up of reports of things that have already happened;
• Find disturbing media images upsetting;
• May become anxious for their own and their family’s safety

Age 13 & Older

• Can be scared and horrified as the same things as younger children;
• They can become deeply worried and anxious about their own safety and that of their family;
• They want to know why the bad things they see on TV are happening

Obviously depending on a child’s age exposure to media coverage of violent events should be limited.  If they are watching this type of media than watch it together with them and explain what is happening.  Here are a few tips to keep in mind from the New York Health Department:

• Make sure they understand that while the images may be shown repeatedly, what they are seeing only happened once.
• Tell them only as much as they really are mature enough for in a way they can understand.
•  Answer their questions and correct any misunderstandings about the event being show on the news. 
• Be aware of their fears and assure them that they are safe.
• Explain to them that the news is often about bad things, but most people are good.

I also found some great tips online from psychologists at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas:

• Limit media coverage: It is important that children are not unnecessarily exposed to media coverage of these events. There is nothing to be gained from letting a child watch news coverage of the aftermath of the shootings. Older children may be interested and it may be appropriate to allow them some exposure; however, parents should watch with their children to be ready for questions and discussion. Younger children should not have any exposure to media coverage of these events. Naturally, even young children may gain information through peers or a chance exposure to TV news, so parents must be aware of this and be ready to help the children process this information. 

• Be calm: Adults must model a sense of calm and reassurance for children, monitoring their own reaction, anxiety and outrage about the shooting.

• Reassure them: Some children may need more ongoing reassurance about their safety. It can be helpful for parents to point out steps that are being taken to help ensure a child's safety at school.

• Answer their questions: As questions arise, tell children the truth in a developmentally appropriate manner. Answer only the specific questions the child asked in a factual manner. It is critical not to speculate or  overwhelm the child with more information than they are seeking. It is equally important that parents not close discussion of the topic — letting children ask questions and express their anxieties can help them cope.  

• Accept their reactions: Do not dictate a reaction to a child or dismiss his reaction. Children should be told that feelings of uncertainty, fear or anxiety are normal reactions to events like this. Don’t necessarily expect children to open up and give their feelings on demand; rather, be cognizant of signs and symptoms of anxiety and stress so that they are prepared to let their children express their feelings according to the child's timeline.

• Maintain normal routines: Maintain a sense of normalcy at home and at school by staying with normal routines for meals, homework and bed time. Understand that children struggling with anxiety and stress may have difficulty completing schoolwork or have difficulty falling asleep at night. At the same time, it’s important not to be overly rigid about the routines; rather, try to maintain the normal schedule to provide children with a sense of predictability and security.

• Watch for vulnerability: Some children are by nature more vulnerable to periods of stress and anxiety. Parents and teachers must be aware of children who may be more vulnerable. Children who have experienced a previous traumatic event, personal loss, significant life change, or who experienced mental illness are particularly at risk for having trouble coping with such an event. Similarly, children who don’t have a strong support system – network of friends and family – may be more vulnerable and in greater need of support.

• Be there: Parents should be very available to their children following this event. Not only will this reassure the child, but it also gives parents a good opportunity to monitor the child's stress level, anxiety and reaction. This is a good time to increase family time and to model a calm, reassuring and in-charge presence for children.

• Warning signs: Parents should be aware of warning signs of high anxiety and fear. These might include persistent worry about their own safety or the safety of loved ones, problems falling asleep or other sleep disturbances such as nightmares, withdrawal from family and friends, excessive clinginess and dependence, irritability, sadness, or decreased activity, preoccupation with the recent shootings or ideas of death and violence, agitated behavior or new behavioral problems and nonspecific physical complaints. Do not hesitate to contact a pediatrician or mental health professional if you have concerns. 

• It can be empowering for children to have activities to focus their energies on during times of heightened anxieties. Consider involving children in prayer groups, church activitie, or volunteer work for community agencies that assist victims of crime or traumatic events. Younger children can be encouraged to draw pictures or write cards in support of victims of the shootings or other violent crimes and traumatic events. This is also a good time to rehearse and reinforce vigilance and child safety practices as well as home security measures. 

As parents these are difficult topics and challenges for us to address, but the safety and wellbeing of our kids is our most important responsibility.  If you have any tips on talking with your kids about monsters and taking precautions as a parent to protect your children please share them with us in the comment section.  Good luck and God Bless to everyone dealing with this subject in their homes!

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Check out the Disney Channel's newest Pre-K Friendly Show: Henry Hugglemonster

The Pre-K television programming that we’ve allowed our preschool aged children to watch has been primarily on two channels PBS (Arthur, Cat in the Hat, Caillou, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Dinosaur Train, MarthaSpeaks, Sid the Science Kid, Sesame Street, Wild Kratts & Word Girl) and Nick Jr. (Dora the Explorer, Go Diego Go!, Bubble Guppies, Max & Ruby, Mike the Knight, PeterRabbit & Team Umizoomie).  Recently though Disney has been challenging the dominance of those other two channels in our household with new quality programming like Doc McStuffins, Jake and theNeverland Pirates & Sophia the First.  This week the Disney Channel is adding a new addition to its Disney Jr. lineup with the premiere of HENRY HUGGLEMONSTER.

HENRY HUGGLEMONSTER debuts on the Disney Channel Monday April 15^th at 5pm ET/ 4 pm CT.  Based upon Niamh Sharkey’s award-winning children's book “I’m a Happy Hugglewug” this new animated tv series is filled with entertaining stories that provide life lessons for kids age 2-7.  The show revolves around a 5 year old “monster” named Henry Hugglemonster as the middle child in a family that lives in the town of Roarsville. 

Our kids love Doc McStuffins so I was pleased to find out that the woman who voices Lambie, Lara Jill Miller, is also providing the voice for Henry in this show.  On the other side of the spectrum, we’ve banned Spongebob Squarepants from being watched by our kids but the man who is the voice behind Spongebob, Tom Kenny, brings life to Henry’s dad and grandpa in this new show.  Don’t worry though, I’ve watched the first episode and Tom doesn’t bring Spongebob’s behavior and antics to Roarsviile from Bikini Bottom. 

Henry Hugglemonster is a quirky and charming show that is a nice addition to television program lineups for parents looking for Pre-K appropriate shows for their children to watch.   What has been nice for our family is that my 4 year old son has recently not been wanting us to turn off the lights at bedtime because he is “scared of monsters in the dark” and we are hoping that this show will help  reinforce our efforts to put those fears to rest by showing the Hugglemonster family and their monster neighbors in a fun non-threatening way.

 Can’t catch the April 15^th premiere on the Disney Channel or want to prescreen the show before your kids see it?  You can do that! Disney has the full twenty-four minute first episode “The Huggleflower / Monster Lullaby “ live streaming on its website NOW! Just go to the following website to watch the show at your convenience:  http://disney.go.com/disneyjunior/henry-hugglemonster/henry-hugglemonster-videos-episodes/the-huggleflower-monster-lullaby-2019660

Disney also has some Henry Hugglemonster coloring pages, crafts (create your own monsterhorns to wear when you watch the show) and games (choose from roaring racer gokart or monster maker charactertures) on its website.

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No Stereotypical Princess Role for Leia in New Star Wars Comic Series

Dark Horse Comics added a new series to its lineup of Star Wars comics in January that focuses on the adventures taking place in the franchise timeline between the original 1977 movie and its sequel the Empire Strikes Back. Simply titled STAR WARS this comic is in a world void of the annoying droid army characters and Jar Jar Binks of the prequel movies and the Yuuzhan Vong intergalactic invasion context and Solo/Skywalker children focus I never have really cared for that many of the novels and comics of the post Return of the Jedi stories have journeyed down.  This new comic storyline is the space opera fantasy that replicates the feel of the brand I grew up with as a kid where my friends and I pretended the elementary school jungle gym was the Millenium  Falcon during recess, brought tin Star Wars lunchboxes to school, and recreated the Death Star scenes with Kenner action figures in the back yard after school.  While there is a more contemporary modern day feel to this new comic book in the artwork and scripting it also has an incredible old school vibe to the characters and situations illustrated within it.

I just picked up issue #4 this week at my neighborhood comic shop  and have to admit that picking up these books has quickly become a regular indulgence for me spiriting me away from some of the stresses of life for a few minutes each month to a place that may be a long time ago in a galaxy far far away but yet is very familiar. I don't normally purchase and read any serial comic on a monthly basis, but I've come to look forward to the arrival each month of a new Star Wars story to read.  I also really appreciate the fact that these stories are written with mature enough content that they are interesting to this 40 year old geek daddy but don't have any content that I'd be worried about my kids seeing if they flip open the comic.

Brian Wood, the author and creative director for the series, portrays Luke Skywalker as a 19 year old who has a lot of potential due to his inherited abilities to use the "Force" but still is immature, a little reckless, thinks of himself as a hotshot pilot, and can be a little hot headed.  Han Solo is a rogue smuggler who shoots first and asks questions later that is sticking along with the rebellion as long as it suits his best interests.  Than we have Princess Leia.  This comic has made me take a double take on my impression of the character.  Like many guys my age I've associated the character with the Jabba slave girl outfit seeing her as a princess needing to be saved from the Death Star, Cloud City, or that slimy gangster leader on Tatooine. In this comic series, Princess Leia isn't participating in diplomatic missions or administrative duties for the Rebel Alliance rather she is a combat pilot for an X-Wing squadron on an important and dangerous mission. I found myself wondering why the change from princess in need of rescue to someone taking the fight to the Empire while reading these first few issues of the new Star Wars comic.

So I went right to the source and chatted with Brian Wood about the new comic.  I have to say that I was really impressed by his answers and it made me take a look back at my past conceptions of the Princess Leia and reconsider my impression of the character.

I asked Brian what his emphasis was or idea behind having Leia being such a "warrior" figure in his new Star Wars comic series?  He answered:  "Isn't she one in the films? One of the first things we see her do is smoke a storm trooper." Brian continued, "she resists torture, takes over her own rescue, shoots troopers, helps fly the Falcon, and that's just the first film!"  

He is so right! Unfortunately, I guess maybe the gender stereotypes I grew up with clouded that impression somewhat.  After Brian Woods made that comment to me though and I thought about it a light bulb went off in my head and I agreed that his approach to the character really was right on.  As a dad who wants his daughter not to be hindered by stereotypes so that she can accomplish any personal or career goal she sets I was embarrassed by my attitude towards Princess Leia.  Thank you Brian for the refreshing approach you've taken in developing this character in this comic and not letting stereotypes influence your story telling. 

On another topic. A big annoyance I've had with George Lucas beyond the whole Jar Jar Binks fiasco was the whole controversy with the "who shot first" cantina scene between Han Solo and Greedo in the original movie.  In the theater release Han Solo shoots first, than in the DVD versions it is changed to first they shoot at the same time to finally Greedo shoots first.  In STAR WARS #3, Han Solo shoots an Imperial spy in the back. I asked Brian if that was his input into the "who shot first" controversy regarding the film.  Brian response was that he wasn't consciously answering that question but rather "just wanted to show that Han  is smart and savvy and can smell a rat." He than added "I'm fine with people seeing a subtext though". I think its fair to say that Brian Woods probably agrees with a lot of Star Wars fans like myself that Han Solo shot first!

Brian also mentioned that he is under contract for 20 issues of this new Star Wars series so looks like we have awhile to sit back and enjoy a fun ride.   If you haven't checked out out the new Star Wars series you can buy it at your local comic retailer or online at digital.darkhorse.com for $2.99 per issue.  Oh yeah and one more plus for these comics, the cover art is great and all drawn by the talented artist Alex Ross who is a legend in the industry!

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Wish Superman a Happy Birthday with a Roadtrip to Metropolis

With this year being the 75^th birthday of Superman it seems like a fitting time to go on a road trip to Metropolis, the Illinois town that DC Comics has proclaimed the real life hometown of Superman.  This city on the banks of the Ohio River has embraced celebrating their local hero promoting a 15 foot two-ton statue of Superman in a downtown square, a bronze statue of Lois Lane, a Superman Museum, a local newspaper called “The Metropolis Planet” inspired by the fictional paper “The Daily Planet” from the comic books and movies, and hosts an annual four day festival honoring the Man of Steel.  Metropolis Illinois was even featured in the pages of DC Comics’ “Adventures of Superman #515 which portrayed its residents idolizing the super hero who lives in their “sister” city.  

Across the street from the Superman statue in Metropolis is the “Super Museum” which has a huge display of memorabilia dedicated to the hero.  It has items on display from the original 1951-1953 television show including the harness that was used for George Reeves flight scenes (he would be lifted by a crane and hurled past cityscape sets to portray the illusion of flight) and his original Superman costume which is actually brown and grey in color since red and blue wouldn’t have shown as well on black and white television sets of the time.  The museum also has props from the 1978 Superman movie including the Kryptonian crystals used on screen by Christopher Reeves to build the Fortress of Solitude.  Click here for a gallery to see some of the items on display at the “Super Museum”.   They also have a fully stocked gift shop for all the fans that stop by to visit can take home their own super souvenir from Metropolis. The Super Museum is open 7 days a week from 9 to 5.  Admission is $5 with children under 5 allowed in FREE.

June 6 – 9 will be the city’s 35^th annual SUPERMAN CELEBRATION.  In recognition of the 75^thanniversary of Superman’s creation the festival will be attempting to set the Guinness World Record for “the largest gathering of people dressed as superman”.  Join the effort on June 9 @ 3pm by visiting Superman Square in your full licensed costume! For more information on what you’d need to wear and how to participate call 800-949-5740.

Other activities for the SUPERMAN CELEBRATION include appearances and autograph sessions with “featured” guests from Superman comics, movies, and tv shows; screenings of entries in a fan film festival;   super hero costume contest with a $1,000 prize; a Smallville Prom themed dance party, art and window painting competitions; and a strongman weight lifting competition. For more information, visit www.supermancelebration.net

Superman made his first appearance in Detective Comics (later to become DC Comics) ACTION COMICS #1 (June 1938).  In the 75 years that have followed he has appeared in various comic stories, radio serials, television shows, movies, and video games.  Check out this great poster by  Steve Younis from www.SupermanHomepage.comthat show the various incarnations of Superman over the years:

Also this year there will be two new additions to the Superman mythos.  On June 14^th, a new movie  MAN OF STEEL will be hitting theaters. The movie stars Henry Cavill as Superman, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, and Kevin Costner and Diane Lane as Jonathan & Martha Kent.  Here’s a look at the trailer:

DC Comics is also introducing a new Superman comic book that will hit retailer shelves on June 12 called SUPERMAN  UNCHAINED … but guess what you don’t have to wait until than to see this new version of superman because they will be issuing a special first look story on May 4 for FREE COMIC BOOK DAY!

Looking for a fun summer road trip for the family? This year seems like a good one to check out Metropolis, Illinois. 

Oh and if you make the trip don't forget to stop by nearby Fort Massac State Park and check out this really great reproduction you can walk through and explore of an early 1800s fort from an era when Illinois was wilderness territory.

The fort is and its visitor center are open Monday - Friday's 8 am - 4 pm and Saturday/Sunday 10 am - 3:30pm.  On the same weekend as the Superman Celebration, Fort Massac will be holding on June 8, 2013 a special presentation with French & Indian War reenactors and exhibits/demonstrations of French, Native American, and Colonial American life in the 17th and early 18th centuries.  For more information, visit the FORT MASSAC STATE PARK website. While this doesn't have anything to do with Superman, I thought this old fort was really cool and threw its info into this post to let you know about an extra benefit of making a trip to this southern Illinois community. 

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Flying into a movie theater near you soon: Disney's Planes

I remember as a kid my parents loaded us up in the car all the time and took us to see movies at the local drive-in theater.  We used to bundle up in blankets and eat a picnic basket full of snacks that my mom packed up for us as we watched movies outside under the stars on super sized screens.  The drive-in theaters that I went to as a kid are all gone now, but fortunately there is still one about ½ in hour drive from our house that is clean, well-run and shows first run movies that our family goes to a few times per summer so my wife and I can share the drive-in experience we grew up enjoying with our kids.

We were at the US-23 DRIVE IN THEATER waiting to watch CARS 2 a few summers ago when a promo for Disney’s tie-in PLANES movie flickered onto the screen.  My son was awestruck and has been asking me ever since when we can go see that movie!  Well 2 years later the wait is finally over as PLANES hits theaters August 9, 2013!

The basis of the story is how a crop dusting airplane named Dusty, who also happens to be afraid of heights, trains to qualify for the air racing circuit and ultimately takes on the defending champion for the pro-circuit title. Check out this clip from the upcoming movie:

As has seems to become a standard for animated movies, PLANES will have a full cast of celebrity voices to bring its characters to life.  Here’s the list of voices released by Disney:

Stacy Keach (“The Bourne Legacy,” Alexander Payne’s upcoming “Nebraska,” Robert Rodriguez’s and Frank Miller’s “Sin City: A Dame To Kill For”) provides the voice of Skipper, a reclusive old Navy Corsair who takes Dusty’s training to new heights.

Brad Garrett (“Everybody Loves Raymond,” “How to Live with Your Parents for the Rest of Your Life”) lends his voice to fuel truck Chug, Dusty’s buddy, coach and biggest fan.

Teri Hatcher (“Coraline,” ABC’s “Desperate Housewives”) brings life and charm to the say-it-like-it-is mechanic Dottie.

Cedric the Entertainer (“Barbershop,” “Larry Crowne, “Madagascar”) as Leadbottom, a puttering old biplane who has no time for Dusty’s far-fetched flights of fancy.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“Veep,” “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” “Seinfeld”) lends her voice to Rochelle, a tough and confident racer who is the pride of the Great White North.

John Cleese (TV’s “Whitney,” “A Fish Called Wanda”) is the voice of Bulldog, the oldest and arguably wisest racer on the circuit.

Carlos Alazraqui (James Garcia on Comedy Central’s “Reno 911”) brings to life the intensely charming El Chupacabra, a racer with more dramatic flair than is recommended at high altitudes.

Priyanka Chopra (“Barfi!”) voices the exotic, mysterious and ruthless Ishani, the reigning Pan-Asian champion from India.

Roger Craig Smith (Captain America in Disney XD’s “Marvel’s Avengers Assemble,” voice of Sonic The Hedgehog in “Wreck-It Ralph”) voices world champion racer Ripslinger—wings down, the biggest name in air racing—and he knows it.

Gabriel Iglesias (Comedy Central’s “Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand-up Revolution”) provides the voices of both Ned and Zed, two not-so-sharp saboteurs who work for Ripslinger.

Val Kilmer (“Batman Forever,” “Top Gun”) provides the voice of Bravo, a member of the Jolly Wrenches and a fan of air racing.

Anthony Edwards (TV’s “Zero Hour,” “Top Gun”) is the voice of Echo, a member of the Jolly Wrenches and a fan of air racing.

Colin Cowherd (ESPN) gives play-by-play coverage as Colin Cowling, an affable blimp and an eye-in-the-sky reporter for the Racing Sports Network.

Sinbad (Comedy Central’s “Where U Been?”) brings to life Roper, an irascible race official pitty full of sly remarks and colorful commentary.

Brent Musburger (ESPN, ABC Sports) brings Brent Mustangburger, the excitable 1964½ Ford Mustang sports broadcasting icon, back to the big screen.

This looks to be a fun family movie for the summer! You’ll most likely find us at the US-23 in August enjoying the show under the moonlight! 

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Best time to go to the zoo: try a winter road trip!

It wasn't a busy work week for me following the Easter weekend so I took a day off and decided to enjoy a trip to the local zoo with my kids on one of the nice Spring days we were blessed with.  I was surprised as we pulled into the zoo driveway to see the parking lots closest to the entrance crammed full of cars and to find ourselves parking in one of the outer lots with a trek to the entry gates.  I shouldn't have been shocked because as the weather becomes warmer and it is more enjoyable to be outside the zoo is a great family day trip.  It's just that our family has become used to having the zoo as our own private place the last few months because we regularly go during the winter and during those colder months we practically have the place to ourselves.

Yes, it may be a little cold out but not only are there no crowds to bump up against for a good view but without the noise and distractions created by all the human visitors many of the animals are much more comfortable and are more active while you watch them during a winter visit compared to a trip in the spring or summer months.  Going to the zoo with my kids has actually become one of my favorite WINTER activities. Most zoos are open to the public all year long - check with your local zoo and see what they have to offer during the months of November - March.

Here's a video from a trip we took to the Detroit Zoo in February that shows some of my kids favorite animals to view: lions, rhinos, lemurs, and meerkats:

We have an annual pass to our local zoo and go throughout the year.  The Detroit Zoo is actually open 362 days per year.  There are fun things to do in the warmer months that you can't do in the winter like riding an animal themed carousel, hand-feeding giraffes or playing on the kids playscape but there are a lot ot fun things that you can do in the colder weather too!

 

 

The Detroit Zoo's Reptile House (aka Holden Reptiles Conservation Center) is kept a warm tropical 80 degrees all winter long to keep its 250 residents happy and comfortable.  During the summer when the place is crowed with visitors it often seems as if the snakes, lizards, turtles, and alligators who call the reptile home hide out in their exhibits.  If you can brave a frigid run or walk through the zoo's grounds in the winter months you'll find without all the motion and sound created by crowds these animals are very active slithering and swimming around their display areas.  My kids really enjoy racing the turtles along the window in their tank everytime we go ... they aren't as fond of the snakes though. 

 

 



A visit to the Giraffe Encounter during the colder months is always a treat for the kids, and parents, because you can get closer to the animals than when they are outside.  You can walk right up to a glass partition and see the giraffes up close and wow does that really let you get a feel for how tall these animals are!

 

If you're going during the cold weather than that is the perfect time to stop by the Artic Ring of Life where you can see foxes, seals and polar bears.  While it is a little bit of a trek through the outside of the exhibit you eventually will be able to observe the seals and polar bears from indoors either through an underwater tunnel or a mock up of a north pole scientific exploration station.  We've seen the polar bears from the underwater observation area more often during the winter months than during the spring, summer or fall and the only times we've seen the artic foxes out on the grounds of the Ring of Life where we could get a good view of them has been in the fall and winter months.

 

 

You can also get out of the winter air and explore the National Amphibian Conservation Center ( aka Amphibiville ) at the Detroit Zoo which my kids love to go and look at all the multi-colored varieties of frogs they have on display.

 

 

 



Like the Reptile House, the zoo also keeps the Matilda Wilson Free Flight Aviary & Butterfly Garden at a nice tropical 80 degrees all year long and we can't go for a visit without stopping by to see the butterflys and parrots.

 

 







Other animals with indoor buildings where you can get out of the cold and observe them include the chimpanzees and gorillas in the "monkey house", the meerkats have their own building as well as the lemurs, the otters may be outside all year long but you can view them from indoors in the heated Mardigian Otter Habitat building, and you can even go indoors to view the rhinos up close.

 

 

Depending on the temperature outside you never know what might be outside roaming around during the winter months and you could get an upclose unobstructed view of a lion, tiger, kangaroo, or grizzle bear.

 



 

You can't leave the zoo without one final stop which is a visit the the Penguinarium, this building was the first facility ever built in the United States to specifically house penguins and has been a highlight of a visit to the Detroit Zoo since 1968. It is located right before you get to the exit and is always the last stop we make before heading back to our car to head home so we can enjoy a nice mug of hot chocolate to warm up with and discuss our adventures at the zoo over.

 

If you haven't taken a trip to your local zoo when it's cold outside I urge you to give it a try!

 

For more information about planning a zoo roadtrip visit the Association of Zoos & Aquariums at www.aza.org



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