Most children know two things about skunks: they're striped and they're stinky. Skunks are cat-sized, badger-like animals that are identifiable by a distinctive black coat with a wide white stripe down the middle of the skunk's body. Skunks have glands under their tails that produce an oily, foul-smelling liquid that is sprayed at perceived predators. Explain to the children that the skunk's spray is primarily a protective measure designed to protect the animals from threats. If the children understand that the skunks produce the scent so that they don't have to fight, they will be less likely to form a negative opinion about the animals.
In addition to their appearance and their ability to spray scent, there are a lot of other facts about skunks that may interest kids. Tell the kids about skunks' habitats, eating habits, and, if the children are old enough to understand reproduction, mating habits. Most children enjoy learning about baby animals, so tell them that female skunks tend to have litters of up to 10 babies at a time and that the females are the sole caregivers to their young. Let the kids know that skunks don't just use scent as a defense mechanism, but also to communicate with other skunks. Save for the odd hiss or scream, skunks are fairly silent, but they use their scent to mark their territory and communicate intentions to mate.
Kids may be more interested in skunks if they participate in some hands-on skunk activities. If you can find some synthetic skunk scent, let the children take a sniff so they can smell it firsthand. For a more pleasant activity, have younger children draw or color a picture of a skunk so they can appreciate the stark black and white coloring of a skunk's coat. Help the kids to make skunk masks out of paper plates and construction paper, and ask them to act out a skunk's reaction to being cornered or threatened by a predator.
Many children will find skunks cute or think that their scent is funny, but it is important to explain that a run-in with a skunk can be dangerous. The spray can cause a human to vomit or become temporarily blind. Skunks have sharp claws and teeth and have been known to transmit rabies. Make it clear to the kids that if they encounter a skunk, they should get away as soon as possible to avoid being sprayed, scratched or bitten.