Axolotls & Declarative Language (Really!)
Has your child ever asked you for a pet or something that you didn’t think you could say yes to, for many reasons? Like um … an axolotl? (An axolotl is an aquatic salamander for those of you not yet in the know about these exotic creatures!).
One of my sons has been really interested in axolotls since last summer. And he has been advocating for our family to get one as a pet. Although there are many benefits to having a pet of course, such as caring for something other than yourself and assuming responsibility for tasks that sometimes are not that fun, I was not convinced an axolotl was the best decision for our family.
My first instinct was to say, “Hard NO!”, and list the many reasons why we cannot get an axolotl as a pet. But my son is persistent, and very good at listing reasons why we should get one.
So, I decided it would be better if I let go of my “Hard NO,” and instead embraced this as a learning opportunity for both of us. Together, we would figure out: What exactly would it mean to have an axolotl as a pet?
I was also able to embrace this process because I realized it would naturally hit on so many executive functioning skills! And, declarative language would be my primary tool to guide our thinking and discovery. For example, we’d have the opportunity to:
think through space & logistics
budget the various costs beyond the price of the pet itself
appraise goodness of fit (i.e., would an axolotl be a good fit for us AND would we be a good fit for an axolotl?)
consider big picture dynamics (we already have a cat!)
and
think into the near and distant future.
Here is what we learned!
Information that would affect us right away
Axolotls eat shrimp, strips of beef, bloodworms, earthworms, and other frozen prey items, which are available at pet stores in a freezer. Young axolotls need to eat every day. Someone would need to pay for this food.
Although Axolotls are not sensitive to injuries, and can regenerate their limbs, they are prone to bacterial infections and parasites, which may come from unsanitary tank conditions. So – it is REALLY important to regularly clean the tank to keep the water quality good.
Both the temperature and the pH of the water need to be very specific for the axolotl to stay healthy. Someone would need to monitor these things closely.
A 20-gallon fish tank is the recommended size (about 2 feet long), because larger tanks have less fluctuation in temperature and water quality, which will keep the axolotl healthy. Also, the tank cannot be in direct sunlight. This limits the places where we could put it in our house.
We have a cat. We would need to ensure the tank is secure so Snowy couldn’t knock it over or dip his paw in!
Information that would impact us in the near future
If we ever wanted to take a vacation, we’d need to find someone to take care of it, to feed it, clean the tank, and monitor the water quality while we’re gone. So, we’d have to know someone, who lives close by, who is willing to assume these responsibilities.
Information that will impact us in the distant future
Axolotls grow to be about 12 inches long. I wonder if it will need a bigger tank at some point, and if so, where would we put that?
Axolotls can live up to 20 years!! So… you’re going to bring this pet with you if/when you go to college…?
At the end of the day, the axolotl is a no for now, but a “no” that I think felt manageable for my son, because we truly discovered “why” it is a no together.
Although he still really wants an axolotl, he can understand why it is not a good fit for our family, and how we would not make the best axolotl owners. Sometimes he forgets, and asks again. But, in those moments, I can gently remind him of all that we learned together (our shared episodic memory), which helps him accept it (again).
So, we can all keep this in mind: The more you can engage kids in the process of discovery and decision making, using DL at the level that is just right for them, the more they will understand and accept why you may have to say no.
Have a great week!
Sources for Axolotl Care:
https://www.rufflesnuffle.co.uk/the-complete-guide-to-keeping-axolotls/
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