Kids have a genuine appreciation for nature

One of the things I used to look forward to whenever any kids visited the aquarium gallery (and that used to be almost every day), was to try and capture their expressions candidly. The emotions always rang true and showed in their expressions - feelings of awe, wonder and pure joy!

Start your children young in their journey of discovering nature, as you can see from the above picture, it's never too early. We have only one earth to bequeath to them and there is no Planet B (as yet). The sooner they get introduced to nature, the sooner they understand their natural environment. Having an aquarium at home is one of the best ways you could get started on this journey of discovery. Watching the fish go about their daily business, playing and interacting with each other is a mesmerising activity that can keep them hooked for hours.

Learning to take care of the fish, cleaning their aquarium, ensuring clean filtered water, and understanding the interplay between the fish, the plants and other inhabitants like snails, shrimps, etc, gives them an understanding of a micro-ecosystem, one where their actions have a direct impact on this microbiome.

One need not start with a full-fledged aquarium, complete with all the bells and whistles. One can start with a small aquarium with even a betta fish, which probably has minimum needs, though please don't keep them in tiny bottles and always ensure clean water. The child must understand that this tiny living being is now in its care. You will be amazed how children step up to the task when entrusted with responsibility and gentle guidance.

Start this journey of discovering a wonderland underwater, enjoy this hobby as a family, you will never look back.

Hope you enjoyed this article and the candid pics. Do share this further, and help spread the word.