An app that makes us smile - Petting Zoo by Christoph Niemann

Petting Zoo by Christoph Niemann
(Screen print)

We have been playing now for over a week with these 21 imaginative creatures of Petting Zoo from author and illustrator Christoph Niemann.

I can't remember where I saw the link, but it mentioned specifically that it is now also available in the South African iTunes store. There is a fee of R15 involved, which is totally worth it!

It is a combination of quirky animals mixed with sound effects and music.

As soon as I think we have found all the ways the animals can move or react, Little Missy makes a new discovery.

You can also spend hours with the music incorporated in some of the animations. The crocodile loses his teeth to the most beautiful sounds, and the octopus can be played like a harp.

It is fun, and I am sure it will keep a little one as occupied as an eighty year old!
Very smart!

https://itunes.apple.com/za/app/petting-zoo-by-christoph-niemann/id618703130?mt=8

A screen print from the app on iTunes

Adult tantrums

Now that I see The Tantrum on a fairly regular basis, I realize that there are most lots of adults who did not get a hold on them when they were young!

Don’t we all get the occasional tantrum when we

• “AAARGGG!”-scream

• Throw a book/cup/etc.

• Bang a door/desk/keyboard.

• Go into a raging monologue?

Is it possible to learn how to handle our emotions and to get a grip on that emotional outburst!
Of course, yes!

That’s why we have such a responsibility in the toddler years to teach our children how to handle that overflowing bursts of emotions.

I think that by trying to put a lid on it, we do not deal with it correctly. Putting a lid on it is when we punish the toddlers and prevent them from going through the whole process. Sometimes it is good to let them rage...
We should also try to teach them how to channel it. There are so many great articles available of strategies. Dionna at Code Name Mama wrote a great guest post at Good Goog about parenting strategies which sums it up for me! It is not about disciplining, but about loving and honouring the development phase in which the child finds himself at!

I am of the opinion that if we approach it in this way we will have less Tantrum Queens and Tantrum Kings around us!

What do you think? Do we go into emotional overdrive because we were not allowed to have those tantrums when we were young?




Related post:
How to survive the terrible tantrum