When I lived and taught in The Woodlands, every spring we would teach the young children about snakes- how to identify them, and what to do if they saw one.  After all, it was not uncommon to spot snakes in The Woodlands.  I used to walk miles and miles along the trails and often found snakes coiled up in trees, sometimes as high as my face.  Once a copperhead was even found inside the school in the boy's bathroom.  We all knew what to do thanks to our Science unit on snakes.

Every parent and caregiver should teach young children about snakes.  There are many books on snakes written for young learners.  Here are a few of them: The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash, by Steven Kellogg; Hide and Snake by Keith Baker; Don't Take Your Snake for a Stroll by Karin Ireland; Slinky, Scaly Snake by Jennifer Dussling; and The Best Book of Snakes by Christiane Gunzi.

After reading about snakes, follow up on creative snake activities. Children can color pictures of snakes, draw snakes and make up their own stories about snakes.  Talk about snake's venom and fangs, and the molting (shedding of skin) that occurs with snakes.  Visit the Houston Zoo or a pet shop so the kids can see the different kinds of snakes.

Teach children the basics on snake safety such as never play or antagonize snakes, stop slowly and move away from them, tell a grown-up if they find one, and wear long pants and boots if they are planning on spending time in woodsy areas.  Children should also know that snakes come out in warm weather.  This cute poem can be used to help educate kids:

Red and yellow, kill a fellow; red and black, friend of Jack.

Dr. James Holly of SETMA (Southeast Texas Medical Association) offers advice on not only how to treat snake bites, but other types of summer stings such as wasps and bees. 

Click here for information on the various types of snakes found in Texas.