Fuelled by his books and his soft toys and his developing penchant for David Attenborough, Arthur is becoming increasingly interested in animals. So with a couple of hours to spare yesterday afternoon we thought we’d wrap up warm and take him to the zoo.
I’ve written about how much we love Paignton zoo before, but this was the first time we suggested a trip and Arthur became excited just with the anticipation of it. And his excitement grew and grew once we were inside.
We saw snakes, just like in The Gruffalo.
We saw tortoises (that Arthur insisted were turtles) having their lunch.
And a crocodile (that Arthur insisted was a dinosaur) having a nap.
We saw lots of different types of monkeys, doing all sorts of monkey-type things. The monkeys are Arthur’s current favourite of Attenborough’s topics, and the one he asks to watch most often.
But best of all was a very patient goat, who Arthur was thrilled to get up close to and who very kindly let Arthur give him a hug.
All in all it made a small boy very happy, and I will definitely be taking him back again to see the animals very soon.
Sophie is... 
That’s how we started, 5 years ago. Their favourites were the escaping Red River Hogs, up near the camels!
I now have two boys aged 6 and 4 who can happily identify many rockpool species, give their life histories, feeding and breeding habits (sometimes rather to loudly in public) and be amused for hours on any local beach in this way – for free! 🙂 they love David A, and Deadly 60 as well. We did a great rockpool ramble in September with @mayaplass from
BBC Springwatch, over at Beacon Cove by Living Coasts…worth watching out for the events there too.
Ah amazing! I can’t wait to do some of the special events when Arthur’s a little bit bigger. We love Living Coasts too 🙂
I remember Paignton zoo, it’s a big one with all sorts of exciting animals. I think I last went when my children were Arthur’s age. I love the goat cuddles, just what one little boy was doing here at Coombe Mill today. Thank you for sharing with me on Country Kids.
It’s a great zoo! But typical that with all the exotic animals on offer Arthur’s most impressed by the goats 🙂 I didn’t think I was going to have anything to link up this week – glad we managed to get out! x