Parenting lessons from Taronga Zoo
Parenting is messy. Raising a family is full of complexity. Different personalities under the same roof, and parents are doing their best to keep everyone thriving and daily family life going.
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending a #culturebites event at Taronga Zoo. Simon Duffy, the Executive Director, shared how they’ve created an awesome culture and what they do on a day-to-day basis so that everyone, from the grounds team to animal keepers to office execs, feel included and valued.
There were so many principles that I felt were great for us as parents to create a space where children feel like they belong and are valued for who they are; I’d love to share a few with you.
Aligning on a direction/purpose - having a clear set of values that you can live by allows parents to be on the same page and your child to know what the norm is in your family.
Encourage healthy disagreements - everyone has a voice, and knowing it’s okay to share lets your child know their voice has value.
Feel safe to make mistakes. Apparently, when the 5 lions escaped their enclosure last year, no one was “told off” or got into trouble. The engineer who built the enclosure was given feedback to ensure it didn’t happen again. This psychological safety allows for the ability to learn and grow. And can help children learn and grow, too.
Encourage a “You can do it” attitude - this is instilled and encouraged in each employee. They are given opportunities to try new ideas even if they fail. Building capability in children is a skill for life.
Listen to each other deeply, and the person in charge reserves the right to say no. Acknowledging a child's feelings and experiences is an important form of “listening”. That doesn’t mean you as a parent can’t say no to the ice cream, hitting or any other “unwanted behaviour” - as a parent, you can do both.
When you’re wrong, apologise publicly. Taking responsibility and apologising to your child is key to modelling healthy, well-adjusted behaviour to your child.
Spread empathy wide - show empathy to your family but also to people outside your family.
Keep an eye on 25 years from now - Play the long game. Conservation work is a long-term investment. Parenting is a long-term investment. The seeds you plant now may not sow until 10-15-20+ years from now. But keeping yourself on track with your long-term vision for your child is important.
These were my main takeouts from the day. I hope they were useful to you.
Much love,
Dina