Ant Farm Kits – An Educational Gift for Kids
Ants are Easy-to-Care-For Pets and Teach Children Responsibility
Looking for a great educational gift for a young boy or girl? Consider an ant farm.
Ant farms are a unique and moderately priced educational gift for children of all ages. Children can see the ants live and work as they tunnel through the ant farm sand or special ant gel.
Ant Farms as an Introduction to Pet Ownership for Children
Ant farms also make a great "starter pet" for children who enjoy animals. The ants require minimal care and attention, but the child must keep the ant farm in a safe place and some ant farms do require that the child provides food for the ants.
An ant farm is a wonderful way for a child to get a taste of the pet ownership experience as they learn what it means to be responsible for another living creature.
The Discovery Illuminated Ant Gel Habitat and the AntWorks Space Age Ant Habitat
The Discovery Channel Store's Illuminated Ant Gel Habitat ($29.95) or the AntWorks Space Age Ant Habitat ($29.95) both make a great gift for a boy or girl.
These illuminated ant habitats feature blue ant-friendly gel that makes owning an ant farm easy. The ants eat the nutrient-rich gel and create tunnels through the gel, so no other food, water or equipment is required.
What's even better is that these illuminated space age ant gel habitats are educational! Both kits include magnifying glasses and an info booklet so children can learn about their new ants. And as the name implies, both ant farms have an LED light in the base, so the ant farm will light up, making an interesting room decoration.
Once the child receives his or her new ant farm kit, they can use the enclosed order form to get the ants shipped to the child's home. For owners of the Discovery Illuminated Ant Gel Habitat, a total of 20 to 25 Harvester Ants will be shipped out (continental United States only), so there's no ant hunting required!
Educational Gift Idea for Kids – The AntWorks Sculpture Kit
The AntWorks Sculpture Kit ($24.95) is an accessory for the AntWorks Ant Habitat that is used to turn the ant farm into an illuminated sculpture once the ants complete their life's work.
Ant farms are not forever. As happens with all pets, the ants will eventually die. And when they do, a parent can help the child pour a clear resin into the ant farm. The resin will preserve the shape of the ant tunnels, creating a beautiful illuminated sculpture once the remaining ant gel is washed away.
Educational Gift for Kids – The Giant Ant Farm
The Giant Ant Farm ($19.99) is a more traditional ant farm, with tunneling sand. This kit does require a bit of responsibility on the child's part, as he will have to feed the ants and provide water using the enclosed water feeder. A year's supply of ant food is included with the kit.
The advantage to this ant farm is its size - it's among the largest ant farms on the market at 12" tall, 19.5" wide and 2" deep. Like the other ant farms, Harvester ants are available by mail year-round.
And lastly, a tip for ant farmers: When the ants do arrive in the mail, place the package of ants in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes. The cold will cause the ants' movements to slow, making it easier to place the ants inside the habitat without any escapees!
Related Articles on Educational Gift Ideas for Kids
For kids who do well tending to their ant farm, the next step up in terms of "starter pets" for children is a Grow-A-Frog Kit. Kids can watch a tadpole grow into a froglet and then into an adult African Clawed Frog, which will live an average of 6 to 8 years. Tadpoles and frogs are easy to care for and they're a great pet for a child who is learning about pet ownership and responsibility.
Kids who enjoy bugs and insects may also enjoy a Butterfly Canopy Kit, where kids can watch a caterpillar transform into a painted butterfly. A Butterfly Canopy Kit, also known as a Butterfly Pavilion Kit, is yet another great educational gift for kids who enjoy animals and pets.
AntWorks Ant Farms Are a Great First Pet for Kids!
|
What do you think about this article?
Latest Articles