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Original poster

What age would you take a child to the zoo?

16 replies

PostManTap · 14/09/2019 08:17

I’m starting to make a list of Christmas presents and thought I might get my sister tickets to the zoo for her, her husband and son.

He will be 2 in February so if they ended up going in summer he’d be around 2 and a half. Would he be interested in looking at the animals at that age? Or should I go for tickets to a farm place and leave the zoo for another year?

Sorry for talking about Christmas so early - working out budget etc Wink

OP posts:
EleanorReally · 14/09/2019 08:19

2 would be really great.
a farm place also,
probably the farm place would be smaller and cheaper?

winterplease · 14/09/2019 08:23

We have an annual pass for our ds who is two, as he loved it so much, so yes, a lovely present!

YouWhoNeverArrived · 14/09/2019 08:31

We have an annual zoo pass and have done since DS was a month old. Certainly since around 4 months he's got a lot out of it - looking at the animals, enjoying the bright colours and the sounds etc.

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Littlebelina · 14/09/2019 08:33

2 is perfect. Ds wasn't interested at 1 but loved it by 2. Dd is starting to show interest now at 11months. It's a great present

GummyGoddess · 14/09/2019 08:34

2.5 is a good age, as pp said farms are also great as sometimes they can touch the animals too.

Normandy144 · 14/09/2019 08:35

We've taken both our DDs to the zoo to mark their 2nd birthdays so yes it is entirely appropriate.

Whatsnewpussyhat · 14/09/2019 08:39

You might not need to get the child a ticket. Our nearest zoo is free for under 3 year olds.

Rachelover60 · 14/09/2019 08:50

That would be lovely, op.

I would like to go to Chester zoo after watching, 'Secret Life of the Zoo' on TV but it's a long way from home so have to content myself with television.

happycamper11 · 14/09/2019 08:52

2.5 is perfect. Took 2 yo niece to Edinburgh zoo last week and she adored it

ChillyB · 14/09/2019 08:57

We took DS to the zoo the other week he’d only just turned 1. He loved it spent all day pointing at the animals and has a new found love of bears as a result.

Original poster
PostManTap · 14/09/2019 09:09

Great thanks everyone. That’s one present sorted!

He’s been to a couple of farm places but not the zoo so think I’ll go for that even though it’s more expensive. It’s only free for under 2’s so I’ll get 3 tickets then they’ll be able to take him when the weather is a bit warmer.

@Rachelover60 our nearest zoo is Chester so that’s where I’ll be getting the tickets for Smile

OP posts:
Ribeebie · 14/09/2019 09:15

I first took my son aged 6m. It sounds a great gift idea.

Grinchly · 14/09/2019 09:58

Seems a bit harsh! Are all your local nurseries full?

happytoday73 · 14/09/2019 10:58

Zoos and even cheaper farms are great at that age.
We took my youngest to chester for 1st birthday.... He was enthralled by the ducks and only the ducks! But at 2 he loved it

LittleAndOften · 14/09/2019 11:10

Our nearest zoo has huge enclosures and involves a lot of walking so I put off taking DS until I was sure he'd really enjoy it (he's 3.5 now). We've done farm parks instead up until now - cheaper and you get to see more animals in less time. This could be the year of the zoo though!

Equimum · 14/09/2019 11:15

I first took DS1 to a zoo when he was around 20 months, and he loved it! By two and a half they’ll really enjoy it.

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