6 yr old DD and skull 💀

[DarkLikeVader]

Posting for traffic ... currently arguing with DD 6 so need some quick back up!

I found a skull in the garden. Asked DH to move it before DD saw (he had gloves on and I didn’t). From teeth and size I’d say a badger skull or maybe a fox (I didn’t examine too closely). DD overheard, wants to see it and maybe take it for show and tell 🤮

I found skulls myself at her age but small rodenty or bird ones on wood walks. This feels.. different. Would you let a six year old a) see it b) take it to school? Thanks!

@MotorcycleMayhem my thought too!

Soak it in bleach and water for a few hours then rinse well and leave somewhere warm to dry. It'll remain nice and white. We have a few skulls, including sheep. They're fascinating things.

gallic I had a thread about it on here a couple of years ago I think (different username). My grans dad came back from the trenches with it having nicked it from a bombed church. My gran then had it for years as she didn’t know what to do with it - she couldn’t bear to just rebirth it on its own but thought she’d get in trouble if she tried to take it back. I was at primary school, kids were bringing in voles skulls and birds skulls for show and tell and I thought ‘I can do better than that’. So I nicked the skull from my grans house and took it to school. I was disappointed that my teacher wasn’t very enthusiastic.

*rebury, not rebirth

Another one saying yes! We have an extensive collection of skulls started at about age 4 - deer, badgers , rabbits and even a horse .... We've also got a collection of owl pellets, many dissected. They are always a great draw ! Some will be a bit ugh but most will be fine / jealous

Yes!

If it's not clean, leave it in the garden a little longer.
But they are fascinating, and a gentler way to introduce death than the loss of a favourite grandparent.

If it is clean (I think you can boil them, if you can stand it, and no I am not a serial killer - a friend used to collect them) then I don't see a problem with it. It's the germs that bugs me. It's good she has an interest in the anatomy.

Wow. Lots of responses while I was finishing up in the garden!

Pretty sure it would be a badger - we have them anyway. That’s why it felt weird - a bit like taking a dead pets skull to school.

I don’t think I’d feel differently it it was a DS ... DD is pretty nails but she is also my first so I’m not unsure. I like to think my parenting is pretty gender neutral 🤨

And to whoever asked - we’re in the south west. But what is the significance of Hertfordshire?

And finally... by the time I’d posted the thread DH had lobbed the skull into the arse end of the garden. I’ve told MN jury thinks it’s overprotective & he says he will see if he can find it in the week. Then I’ll post the photo for the weirdos! 😁

Another saying ,yes clean it.We had sheep skulls at this age.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3425075-My-kids-dad-fed-them-badger

You'll find several of your comments reference this hilarious thread.

I can remember the son of a butcher bringing some Turkeys feet into class for show and tell.. complete with tendons sticking out that when he pulled on them made the claws grasp your finger (for those brave enough to hold their finger out!)

Pretty gory but educational all the same.

I had a fox skull, missing bottom jaw but still with teeth. A bird skull with complete beak, it was so light. We also had two desiccated frogs

I love skulls!

(Just for the record, I have an entire human skull INSIDE MY OWN HEAD!)

Yes - let her see it and let her take it to school. If you can, trawl the internet to identify it and then she can talk about why the incisors are X and the canines are Y and the molars are Z - it will be brilliant!

I thought this thread was going to be about a human skull !

Heartbreaking isn't it Ariadne . . .

Is the lower jaw attached to the skull? If it is, its definitely a badger. If it's not, it's more likely a fox

Yes.
My 4 y/o went on an archeological dog and found human teeth!

Great way about opening discussions on mortality and animal life!

A friend of DS2 recently took their horse's bollocks to school in a jar for Show & Tell. She was apparently surprised when her form teacher was less than delighted with said bollocks.

Damn, I thought my DD was doing well when she had the confidence to take a My Little Pony in for show and tell. Needs to up her game!

If you found it buried in a (suburban) garden, wouldn't it more likely be a dead pet? Unless you live in the countryside with a mahoosive garden/land I can't see how in previous years a dead fox/badger would've ended up buried in your garden (or just left to rot) by the owners.

Anyway, is it cool? YES! DD to see it? Yes if you think she'd be OK with it. Show and tell? Yes if school are OK with it.

Yes most certainly. DD6 would be fancinated and would love to take it to show and tell at school. She has a mole skull in her jewellery box (along with a dead ladybird, a dried out tiny frog, and a tiny egg shell) that is her pride and joy. They all jostle for space between her christening bangle, disco beads and other various precious treasures 🙈

I took a pig's cardio-vascular system and a cow's eyeball into school. I mean, it was for biology. Would have been a bit weird for PE.

I might clean it first but yes I think it's great she's interested and wants to see it and she should definitely bring it for show and tell (although in a container). I grew up in London and now live fairly rurally. I remember being shocked at the number of dead animals my son was exposed to once we moved here but actually it's great. You have discussions about life and death instead of brushing those issues under the carpet. It's healthy and informative.

Yes, absolutely.