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Celebrate the whistle pig
In reality, what would a groundhog do if it saw its shadow? According to the National Wildlife Federation, "hide" is the unlikeliest of answers. The groundhog, or "whistle pig," most likely would hiss, squeal, growl, bark or chatter its teeth.
Why should Groundhog Day (Saturday) matter to families? NWF's naturalist and animal expert, David Mizejewski says, "find reasons to celebrate -- use annual occasions to learn about and honor a particular species." Below are three tips from Mizejewski:
n Test their knowledge
Help your kids become animal aficionados with fun trivia facts. Turn dinner table conversation or a long car ride into an opportunity to quiz budding naturalists on their favorite creatures. Lion lovers, for instance, will get a kick out of knowing that the big cats snooze up to 20 hours per day and can't roar until the age of 2.
n Find apps that educate
The ad-free apps, Ranger Rick Jr.-Appventures and Ranger Rick's Tree House, teach kids, 4-7 and 7-12, respectively, about nature through interactive stories, videos, games, jokes, puzzles, pictures and more. Animal Trivia by Brett Plummer, a trivia quiz, is free for Android devices.
n Consider adopting an animal
Educate children on endangered wildlife and the importance of preserving the environment and its inhabitants by "adopting" an animal in peril. They'll receive information and pictures of "their" critter through the postal service. Find more information online at nwf.org.
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