Meet River, Junior Junction Kumeū’s bearded dragon. River is adored by our tamariki (children) and lives in the kōmitimiti (toddler) room in her own tank full of rocks and branches. Bearded dragons have a beard-like feature underneath their throat that inflates.
This can occur when River feels feisty, or when she’s trying to control her temperature. She is very gentle with our tamariki who love to hold her and watch her explore. Studies have found that playing with a pet can help with stress and anxiety. River also likes watching the children play from her enclosure. A pet such as River teaches the children many important life lessons and skills, such as having empathy and compassion for another living creature.
The children play an important role in caring for River. Our tamariki learn that hard work is required when caring for another living thing. They also learn to value this relationship and take pride in their responsibility as caretaker and friend. Most importantly, like most pets, River offers unconditional love that teaches the children about loyalty, trust and kindness, which contribute to supporting social and emotional development.
