
03/04/2025
Long post ahead ❣️🐟 Following my previous session with a fish on the topic of "Catch & Release" Fishing, I recently came across some newly open kids friendly place that have really fun activities such as farming experience etc, and was considering to bring my child there...
Until the part where I notice a section where it allow kids to catch guppies in an open wet area and have a "splashing good time" to train their motor skills.
"𝙇𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙆𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙁𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜" is not a new activity, infact it has been quite a common recreational family bonding activity especially for families with young children.
Most of us would have done that in our younger days, too.
However, with the advancement of our lifestyle and awareness, we can choose recreational activities that respect all living beings, moving away from practices like longkang fishing, and still have fun times with our little ones.
My son once asked me why the other children get to play with the fishes (by catching them) and why he couldn't join in..
My reply to him was, in a very layman and kids friendly way: If you are one of the fishes here, and swimming happily with your daddy and mummy.. One day, someone just scooped you (or your parents) up, transferred you somewhere else and made you very giddy, then released/ dumped you when they were done. Would you be happy?
His answer was: No..
Some might think I am depriving my child to have fun/childhood memories, and that "its okay" because they are just tiny guppies that reproduce fast. But I explained to him that there are many other different things we could do to have fun. If you like to play with water, we can go water playgrounds, you can scoop the waterbabies beads or fishy toys.
•••
This post is not to slam any business nor call to boycott them, but a gentle reminder for us all, to pause and think about our choices in life, and what we kind of values we want to impart to the next generation..
Also, it would be even better to have businesses stepping forward to make a change by creating experiences that are both genuinely fun and compassionate, ✨️🫶