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Meet Popcorn, Aspire Wollert’s Centre Pet!

Meet Popcorn, Aspire Wollert’s Centre Pet!

Aspire Early Education Wollert has a brand-new friend at the centre. Popcorn the blue tongue lizard has joined the Aspire Wollert family to much delight.

Popcorn is the pet of Wollert’s Head of Curriculum, Brooke, who has been Popcorn’s owner for about 8 years. He was at Brooke’s previous centre for those 8 years, and was used as a learning took with the kindergarten children. Kids have always reacted positively to Popcorn, even if they are a bit wary at first. They will generally still want to be around him, and participate in any Popcorn-related activities or discussions. Popcorn is a patient, friendly, and cute friend to have at the Wollert centre.

See the wild adventures of Popcorn below!

Learning about Blue Tongue Lizards

Blue tongue lizards are omnivores, requiring a balance of insects such as crickets, cockroaches and mealworms, snails, slugs or earthworms. They also enjoy a mix of green and red vegetables like spinach, coloured lettuce, tomato, red or green peppers, mushrooms or rose petals as a special treat. Occasionally some boiled or raw egg can be added to the mix. Popcorn also especially enjoys fruit!

Popcorn’s favourite fruits are bananas, strawberries and kiwi fruit. Another main source of his diet, as he is a pet, is dog food.  People who have dogs and feed them wet dog food may notice wild blue tongues around their homes.

Blue tongue lizards are native to Australia and are quite common across the country. In Victoria, they inhabit a wide variety of ecosystems from coastal heathland, lowlands and mountain forests to interior plains. They make great pets due to their docile nature and calm disposition, as well as being relatively low maintenance.

Pets in Kindergarten

Having a class pet in an early learning environment is a great tool for little learners. As well as the fun of having a pet outside of home, there are many benefits to having a pet, especially a lizard, at Aspire Wollert. Centre pets also link closely with the Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority National Quality Standards Area 3.

Having a pet available offers children the chance to observe, interact with, and learn about animals. It can significantly enhance a child's educational and care experience by deepening their understanding of nature, ecology, and relationships. Being an Australian native animal, Popcorn can help the children learn more about Australian wildlife, and the importance of looking after out unique creatures.

Centre pets can also help children build empathy through developing bonds with animals.

Popcorn the blue tongue lizard has easily been a great addition to Aspire Early Education Wollert. Thank you to Brooke for bringing her beautiful lizard to the centre and using it as a wonderful teaching tool.

Aspire Wollert is running out of available spaces, so book a spot soon. If you are interested in booking a tour, click the button below or call 1800 978 429.

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