Would you take your child to the circus? - Page 2

[Chelly2003]

Originally posted by amma
We watch discovery channel but some day I would like to take him on safari where the animals don't live in captivity.... wouldn't it be great?

My Dh and I went to South Africa and stayed in the Kruger national park for our honeymoon....... I took my son to africa when he was 2, and to a different game park (Mpongo Park) for one day. He got to see all kinds of animals, and even a baby chimp that grabbed and held his hand! (Awwwwwww)

We'll go again!! in a heartbeat.......
Chelly

[girlsaplenty]

no cirque for young ones

Ditto to what everyone's said about performing animals.

How old is your dd? My husband and I saw Cirque de Soleil last year and while we enjoyed it, it was very dark, and parts of it were intense. I would not take my children (ages 6, 4, and 2) because some of the costumes, lighting, amd other effects would be too scary.

My children have watched a Cirque video from the library, though. On the small screen in our well-lighted family room it was fine.
Diana

[LunaMom]

No circuses with animals for us. Seeing animals exploited in that way really upsets me. I do remember loving it as a kid, though, but I didn't know any better!

Dh and I love to watch Cirque on cable, and when dd is older, maybe 8 or 9, we'll take her. It does seem like it may be a little too freaky for a four-year-old (dd's age), plus it is $$$$$$!

[TraceyMc]

We would never go either. I saw a 20/20 special once on BArnum and Bailey, horrible treatment of the animals.
When I lived in NC-I joined an animal rights group-they were protesting a circus in town. They said the reason the elephants wore the head pieces was to hide the scars from being abused in order to do the tricks. Sickening.
Greaseball-I also hate clowns-I got a laugh out of the website! Thanks!

[Quirky]

Originally posted by Chelly2003
but at least the animals are not abused at the zoo

It really depends on the zoo. A lot of them a) don't abide by humane standards and b) even the big well-respected zoos sell off their excess/old animals to the crappy mean little zoos.

If the zoo looks like a horrible place to live for an animal - ie cement pen/cage, nothing to do except pace, it probably is horrible for the animal.

It's such a downer....

[lilyka]

No we don't. I was torn for a while but they do really treat the animals badly. also I hate clowns. period.

as for the zoo, I don't know about zoos nation wide but most of the animals at our zoo are part of the species survival plan and are there for purposes of increasing the population and a lot are injured and unable to survive in the wild (these two groups make up 50%-75% of exhibits) The rest are more or less dmestic and farm animals. Kinda silly to see them in the zoo but whatever. Also our zoo is pretty good about keeping mommy's and babies together. Which is nice.

[LunaMom]

Yes, our zoo is more of a wildlife preservation park, too. They also keep mamas and babies together. The last time we were there, we got to see a mama gorilla nursing her baby! My dd loved that and told everyone who could hear that her mommy fed her that way, too!!!

[Funkeemonkey]

nup! Why take them to a circus when you live in one.

[Ruth]

My 5-year-old has never been to a circus or a zoo. We do take her to a wildlife preserve often, where she can see giraffes and zebras and deer nursing their babies.

We have taken her to a tiger rescue shelter, where a wonderful woman rescues tigers from stupid people who think tigers would make a good pet.

We have taken her to a bird sanctuary to drop off a little bird that fell out of a nest. We couldn't find the nest so we took the bird to a "bird lady" who sent it to the sanctuary. She cried because she missed the bird so much so we took her to the bird sanctuary to visit the bird. She still writes letters to Pogli.

I understand that in Houston, Texas, the Barnum & Bailey circus travels to the city, everybody gets arrested, they spend the night and jail and go on to the next city. This happens every year, supposedly. I never confirmed the story.

I LOVED the circus as a little girl but I think it was mostly because it was a fun family event and we got to spend money (we even got a toy!). But we sat so high up in the bleachers that we really couldn't see anything, probably why I couldn't see the cruelty.

[tlc4tots]

I'm so glad I found this. I felt like I was denying our child of a "childhood experience", but it just didn't feel right to go to a circus with animals. Isn't it funny how things have changed since we were kids.

[mshollyk]

everyone's covered the animal aspect...so i'll give a different perspective. i used to work at Madison Square Garden, and the circus/ice show/whatever-kid-show came around regularly. i would never take my kids to those shows for a few reasons:

1. they are a big ripoff. the tickets, food, and unrelated junk they sell are ridiculously expensive.

2. it's all about getting you to buy stuff. there are stands EVERYWHERE with the stuff displayed so that the kids will beg for it. and it's pretty much the same stuff for every show/circus, all of it complete junk.

3. these shows are complete madness. you will leave frustrated and exhausted. trust me, i remember how ragged the parents looked. your kids will leave upset, too, cuz you aren't likely to buy everything they want.

4. these circuses/shows are fairly generic and lack creativity. there are far better, more interesting, and educational things to do with your time and money.

anyway, there's $.02

[tlc4tots]

Well said mshollyk! Thanks for the reminder. Sometimes we think we are doing something nice for our kids when all they really want is our time.

[Sativarain1]

ughhhh NO absolutley NOT! My boys will never go to a circus I think its unfair to the animals and would not pay a penny to support them!
I remember a few years ago sitting with my family watching a circus and glancing over to see the elephants and they were chained and looked really sad, and they kept moving back n forth as if they were confused or wanted out! I dont blame them

Valerie

[LunaMom]

1. they are a big ripoff. the tickets, food, and unrelated junk they sell are ridiculously expensive.

2. it's all about getting you to buy stuff. there are stands EVERYWHERE with the stuff displayed so that the kids will beg for it. and it's pretty much the same stuff for every show/circus, all of it complete junk.

That's so true. Friends of ours recently got us tickets to see some Disney on Ice show, and it was fun for my dd and her friend, but I was horrified by the amount of stuff available for purchase! I mean, when I was a kid, there were those $2 lights you could swing around, and then the food. Well, not only were there stands every twenty feet or so selling a huge array of overpriced crap, but the vendors came into the arena and walked up and down the aisles with it, too.

Fortunately neither my dd or her friend expected stuff and were happy to just watch the show. I mean, sure, dd asked for something, we said no, that the tickets cost a lot of money and that we had come to see the show, not buy toys. She's pretty good at accepting that for an answer because we always stick to that rule (yes, we're those pooper-type parents, I guess! ), but it does bug me that the stuff is even there. And then you see all these other families blowing a ton of money on it.

I see that at the movies, too - I mean, if we go to a full-price show, it costs $24.50 for dh and I to take dd to a movie, and sheesh, that's plenty. I see these parents buying all sorts of candy and soda and popcorn for their four kids and figure that this one trip to the movies could be setting them back about 60 bucks!

[Greaseball]

When I was a police cadet, one of the more demeaning jobs I got was to escort a bunch of unruly kids to a circus.

Why would anyone need a police escort at a circus? Well, I soon found out! I think there is something about a circus that just brings out the worst in people.

[mshollyk]

yeah, other than the WWF, the circus was the hardest event to work...

Originally posted by Greaseball
Why would anyone need a police escort at a circus? Well, I soon found out! I think there is something about a circus that just brings out the worst in people.

[flutemandolin]

I just found out the "special treat" for ds's kindergarten class is a trip to the circus. UGH! Luckily they're not letting anyone bring spending money. Maybe I'll use it as a teaching thing. DS knows a lot about wild animals, so I'll let him know how circuses treat wild animals. I hate to spoil his excitement and anticipation, but he's old enough to know the truth.

Personally I think circuses, carnivals and the like are such an antiquated, creepy, dark form of entertainment. Why does the school perpetuate the idea that they are fun? There is a great aquarium right next to the arena where the circus is held. Why don't they go there instead?

[Quirky]

Maybe you could educate the teacher as well about the circus and get the field trip changed, tufted?

[Miss Kitty]

We will absolutely not go to a circus. I cannot abide by their unnatural training and often cruel methods. I only wish everyone would boycott and run them completely out of business!

However, in defense of "small" zoos. Our zoo is a wonderful place with a rehabilitative hospital for injured wildlife, we have the youngest zoo manager in the US and he does a fabulous job.
Tues. are free and many day cares, adult day programs, elderly programs take advantage of that day. There are bird shows which teach children the importance of wildlife, ecology, and the eco-system. We are very blessed to have such a wonderful zoo in such a small community.

[momto l&a]

We have gone to a circus that came to a town near us. Dd #1 has yet stop talking about all the animals she saw there, so much better that looking at pictures in a book. The nearest zoo to us is 4-5 hours away so we have only gone there once.

The animals at the circus we went to where very well taken care of and seemed happy.

I do agree though the food and toys are way to much $$$ at the circus.