Is it safe!!!

[seamushunter]

MY little 4 year old bro loves!! my corn and always whants to hold it but im afraid hell drop it ? is dand=gerous if it falls a bit? or should i help him out thanks a ton
-hunter-

 

[cornlover221]

depending on how tall you bro is a lil fall wont hurt it to much...snake fall out of trees and yall stuff like that all the time....but just for an extra precaution help him out with holding just to make sure he can handle it

 

[Rich in KY]

Let him hold it while sitting. Less of a fall.

 

[bitsy]

I'm not sure I'd recommend it. I did some familiarisation work with the public and Royals many years ago, and the most difficult thing (after peeling the Dad off the ceiling!), was getting young children to understand that they must NOT squeeze when they hold the snake.

I tried all sorts of ways to explain - "Just be a branch and let the snake move" etc - but their instinct was always to grab or tighten their grip as soon as the snake started to move.

 

[seamushunter]

thanks ill just get him to sit dow and he just lets the snake go around him thanks

 

[wade]

I have let lots of little kids hold snakes. Sit on the floor next to him and just let the snake crawl around his lap and yours. There is no danger.

 

[v_various]

something we do with younger kids is tell them to cup their hands, have a parent do the same, and then put the kid's hands on top of their parents to hold the snake. Getting them to sit down doesn't hurt either.

The snakes we bring to the educational shows are all older, super calm snakes though. Not sure how well that would work out with a spaztastic young snake.

 

[Nanci]

Be careful. We just had someone (Taxidermy??) who allowed a child to handle a snake which sustained some sort of spinal injury and then had to be euthanized. I would be very watchful, make sure your brother is sitting on the floor, make sure he isn't going to crush or bend or break the snake. If it's a hatchling, I wouldn't even consider it. You can hold and he can pet.

 

[bekers71]

I think letting your brother hold your snake is fine as long as you are watchful. You also have to be willing to be patient and teach him how to correctly handle the snake. In my house there are 5 boys, ages range 11 down to 18 months old. We have taught all of them, including the baby, what to do and not to do with the snakes. The baby touches all the snakes with a closed fist, using the back of his hand to touch them. (This method helps with the urge to squeeze) If he wants to hold one, he will sit down and say "snake", interpreted means "Put that snake on my lap". LOL The other children help take the snakes out for exercise and feedings. They know to avoid grabbing the head and tail area and to be gentle. Like I said, it takes patience to teach a child how to handle and care for any animal. But in the long run it is well worth the effort.

 

[Monger]

My four year old nephew holds my new snow corn Javier without any problems. Just make sure he's sitting down and remind him to be gentle.