Interacting With Kids

On the subject of child rearing, adults (other than parents) can have a major impact on the development of children. It seems to me that a lot of adults treat kids as if they are either non-existent or minor irritants. Better to be ignored than interacted with.

I love kids, I like joking around with them, picking on them and throwing the football with them after church. It is no coincidence that kids like me. Some have said that “Rob is just a big kid”. OK I’ll take that.

I had a client in the other day who mentioned to me that her adult son commented that his time cleaning cages at Tejas with Walker were some of the most memorable that he had experienced. Interesting… I’m sure Walker doesn’t feel that way.

When Lauren was little I took her on a farm call and pulled a calf. The rancher named the calf, “Lauren”, she’s never forgotten that.

When clients bring their kids into the clinic I always shake their hands and introduce myself to them and ask them things like; What did you get for Christmas, are you ready for school, what are you going to be for Halloween, etc.

I ask them to help me lift their dog up on the table. There’s nothing funnier than a five year old kid trying to pick up an 80 pound dog. Before I vaccinate their dogs I give them a dog treat and tell them to reward their pet after I give the shots. I ask them if they want a shot or if they want their ears checked. If I have time I take them back to the kennel and let them see all the animals.

I give kids empty syringes so they can practice being Veterinarians at home.

Sometimes at church I’ll give things to the kids. I might buy a bunch of fossilized shark teeth on ebay and give them each a shark’s tooth.

Brandon, my 9 year old “little brother” in the Big Brother/Big Sister program spends a lot of his time during the summer hanging out at the clinic with me. I’ve taught him to introduce himself, walk up to a client, look them in the eye and shake their hands. Also, when they ask him how he’s doing to respond in kind. Brandon can give a dog a shot and do lots of things around here.

Create some memories; teach these kids a thing or two… they will grow up one day.