I find it worrying......

I actually find it worrying when kids don't know their animals.
I'm talking 8-11 year old kids, who don't know the difference between a rabbit and a guinea pig, or a guinea pig and a hamster, or who think budgies are parrots.

Don't their parents teach them anything, show them pictures in books, or even on tv?!

i have to confess i would know the difference with birds...i think all birds that are black are black birds!!!!

as for rabbits and guinea pigs and hamsters - no excuse!!

As i have never had any interest in them, i could honestly say that i wouldnt have the faintest idea of what a hamster, guinea pig or any other little creatures like that would look like

I DO know what a rabbit looks like tho' so im not a total loss

I only knew hamsters, guinea pigs and gerbles as my class at school. I wouldnt have known otherwise. Though I knew all different types of goldfish.
I dont see a problem with budgies as parrots as they are more or less part of the same family.

I suppose hamsters/gerbils or different birds are excuseable, but not knowing a rabbit????

My son knew a rabbit before his first birthday, he must be a child prodigy!

He's 5 now and knows most popular dog breeds but that's my fault i'll admit.

I agree, Rabbits I would think is one of the main group of animals kids should know from early on.

I still can't see how kids can mistake a rabbit for a guinea, or a budgie for a parrot!

I never had ANY pets as a kid, but still knew all my animals!
We read books!

But they are part of the same family, so they are right, albeit in an odd way.

I read books and knew alot of animals, but just never had interest in small animals like that. I could tell adults about all different goldfish varieties.

Edited to add, It may be worrying but there is a lot more worrying things out there.

You have to wonder what they'd make of a tortoise don't you?

lol yeah!
Half the time the parents can't even correct the kids cos they don't know themselves!