Sea Life Orlando dives into new toddler time

The new Toddler Tuesday has put tadpoles — also known as human preschoolers — even more into the mix at Sea Life Orlando Aquarium on International Drive.

The weekly program could prompt youngsters an early start to liking sea life and Sea Life. Toddler Tuesday begins before regular operating hours at the I-Drive 360 location. It features group story time near a giant tank of fish, coloring activities, stingray feeding and meet-ups with Magnus, Sea Life’s walkaround character.

“We’ve always been super popular with families with children,” said James Paulding, general manager of the attraction, which has been open almost two years. “That’s where we’ve scored really, really well.”

The new event allows for a more intimate experience and more educational matter, he said.

This week, youngsters — accompanied by their parents — gathered on the floor in front of the Indian Ocean exhibit for a sing-along and a story about turtles and the moon. Dozens of fish swarmed behind the reader. Later, a Sea Life diver submerged behind the tank’s big window and shared turtle facts.

“You get different interactions that you wouldn’t normally get during the day … then you get the rest of the time to enjoy the rest of the aquarium,” Paulding said.

That stimulating atmosphere presents options for mind-wandering kids.

“You’re not stuck there in a plain room. You’ve got an amazing vista of fish to keep you amused. You get story time, you can listen to the story. You can watch the turtle, watch the diver, watch the shark,” Paulding said. “I think everyone gets what they want from the experience and has something to keep them entertained.”

Toddler Tuesday tickets are $15. They are $12 for children between the ages of 3 and 12, and free for kids ages 2 and under. Sea Life annual passholders get in free. Participants remain in the attraction after the hourlong event concludes.

Sea Life will shift the emphasis of Toddler Tuesday as the program goes forward, Paulding said.

“This month we’re talking about turtles,” he said. “It could be sharks, seahorses, jellyfish — lots of creatures to talk about.”