Peppa Pig

Anybody who is ‘friends’ with me on Facebook or has run into Emilie lately knows that we recently acquired a Guinea Pig. Her name is Peppa, as in Peppa Pig, and she was a belated birthday gift of sorts to Emilie from her Aunt Mandy and cousins. We, as a house rule, don’t have any inside pets but after much consideration we decided to make an exception seeing as she lives in a cage and isn’t running free.

So far it is going pretty well. Both kids love to play with her so she gets handled regularly. Almost too regularly if you ask me, I’m constantly saying, “Let’s give Peppa a break…she needs a rest about now.” Honestly, if they don’t love her to death she’ll be a pretty tame critter by the time she’s full grown. She gets to watch Farm Sim with Jack, cook in the play kitchen with Emilie, and play ‘hide-n-seek’ under the couch in the living room (my least favorite game and we play it at least twice a day it seems). They build her Lincoln Log forts, and she goes for rides in the baby carriage. She also gets to be the baby when the kids play house. Several times I have found her tucked into the doll cradle a veritable “pig-in-a –blanket.”

An unexpected side-effect is the Jack like to ‘read’ tractor books to his pig pal. He enjoys reading but does like to have someone listen to him and the pig seems to work just as well as me so he’s actually been reading more lately because the pig is more than willing to sit and listen to him read.

 

Both kids are getting a good lesson in animal handling and care which will be a handy life skill I’m sure. They are responsible for feeding her and help me clean her cage. Aside from pig pellets she gets a wide variety of fresh veggies and fruit. Romaine lettuce is her favorite followed by cantaloupe and carrots. She also enjoys carrot tops, bell pepper, and peas (in the pod).

In all she seem to be a fun and welcome addition so far.