The world’s best teachers
The dog has now passed on, and the boy is now all grown, but Eagle Scout Aaron still has much to teach about courtesy, respect and achievement. Winnweiler, Germany, August 2005
“Children and animals are the world’s best teachers– but very few adults really want to be educated.” — Ashleigh Brilliant
Educators have long known that learning is optimal when the lessons are engaging and fun. What better teachers, then, than animals and children? I hope there are more adults wanting this sort of education than Ashleigh thinks there are, but if not, maybe some of us will catch on when the stress becomes unbearable and we think “there must be a better way to live.”
The only thing more fun than watching animals or children at play, is watching them at play with each other. This has been one of the nicest gifts of the online world – we can now watch and share hilarious clips of kids and animals doing what they do best, and teaching us, among other things, how important it is to laugh as often as possible.
Blog readers have shared some real gems in the comments over the past year. If you missed the link to the cat on the Roomba, or the sledding crow, try a Google search for those clips (or try the terms “guilty dog” or “parrot talking in Chinese” or just “funny animal videos”). But what about kids and animals together? Does anybody have some good links to funny clips of children interacting with animals? If so, please post them in the comments below. We could all use a fun lesson today.
Defeat Despair 
Thanks for sharing this. I really miss teaching the little ones. They can frustrate you no end but they are the funniest group of people and so eager to please. I don’t have any funny clips to share but I could load you up with funny stories. Have a good day my friend.
Thanks Amy, hope Aaron doesn’t mind starring on the blog! Hope to see you soon.
My dog companion these days is a rescue named “Buster,” who most people peg as a pit-bull mix (although, through DNA testing, we eventually learned he’s a boxer mix). When he first came into my life five years ago, I did a lot of research on pit-bulls. I was surprised to find out that in the early 1900’s, the breed was highly touted as family dogs, in fact, earned the nick-name “Nanny dogs.” This 33 second video never fails to make me laugh like crazy, as one dog earns that nickname. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qufvAZcyX6s
Hope it does the same for you! Big hugs, Julia!
Hi Ellis, thanks so much for that clip! Definitely made me smile. My father had what appeared to be a pit-bull mix dog for many years and he was a wonderful companion. I think pit bulls can be the sweetest, most lovable dogs and it’s sad that the widespread abuse of them has tainted that breed more than the abusers. I was happy the whole Michael Vick case brought some of this to light. I have read that some of the Vick dogs were rehabbed successfully and are now therapy dogs. I’ll share the nanny clip with Drew and Megan!
I woke up this morning thinking about the most recent song you sent me 🙂 and hearing your voice in my imagination. I’ve been intending to write back, but my inbox is a disaster area right now. I’m so happy we are still in contact after all these years! Thanks so much, for everything! Keep me posted on your upcoming move.
Julia, I’m trying to get back to normal (whatever MY normal is)! I have enjoyed the flying eagle clip that Eric shared and the funny nanny clip that Ellis included here. I really hope that you are having a better week. Hope all is well with Jeff and Matt. Thinking of y’all tonight.
Hi Sheila, thanks for thinking of us – glad you liked the clips! Today the downward trend continued (Matt this time, not Jeff); I’m just hanging on and hoping for a better day tomorrow. I really appreciate your thoughts and prayers! Your message brought me cheer.
Not with a child, but a “smaller” human:
http://www.coolestone.com/media/5896/Very-Talented-Russian-Bear-and-His-Awesome-Friend/
Eric, I couldn’t get the Coolestone link to play in my browser, but I was able to watch it on YouTube here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GPuQ01FpQM It amazes me that an animal so huge could jump up and down, clap, and sit in a chair – much less hula-hoop! Thanks for sharing this!