Toddlers are most curious about the world around them. They gravitate towards pets and animals. So as a parent you have to keep a watchful eye both on your little one and the animal in question. Also this is the age when they have started to talk. So it’s important that they learn to tell one animal from another.
Here are some simple ideas that will help your baby fall in love with animals.
- A Trip to the Zoo
Kids love zoos. Keep a hat and a pram handy to protect your baby from the sunlight and make a day-long picnic out of a trip to the zoo. And keep talking to your little one as you move from animal to animal. He may not be able to pronounce all the names but he’ll absorb all the information.
- Ready, pet set, go!
Have a pet at home? Or know some friends or relatives who are dog or cat lovers? Take your baby for a visit and watch how he starts playing with these pets. Unlike adults, babies have few fears. So they find it very easy to play with pets. Also pets invariably feel protective about babies.
3. Cow boys and cow girls
In India, anything with horns is allowed on the road; this includes goats, cows and buffaloes. The next time you go for a drive and get stopped in your tracks by one of these creatures, don’t get miffed. Just use the opportunity to explain the finer points of horns and cattle to your baby.
- Picture books
Pick up a few pop-up books and if your little one is old enough, encourage him to colour animals in picture books. This will not only feed his creativity, it will also ensure that your little animal lover will be able to associate colours with animals: parrots are green, peacocks are blue, elephants are grey, etc. You can also encourage your baby to ‘join the dots’ and ‘connect lines’ to make different animal shapes. There are many such shapes available online. Flash-cards, games and animal videos can also be a big help.
5. Animal prints are a roaring success!
Dress your toddler in clothes with animal prints. He’ll love them. You could also wallpaper his room with an animal themed option. And don’t forget to recycle items to create toys that look like cute animals.
- There’s a hippo in my plate!
Get creative with food. Turn healthy veg pattice into little animals. Or pancakes into fat hippos. That way, even your baby’s meal times will become learning experiences, giving him food for thought. It’s also a great idea if your child is a fussy eater!
7. Sing Animal Songs
Children can learn about features of different animals through fun rhymes and songs. Be it Old MacDonald had a farm or Elly the Elephant swaying her trunk. In fact, animal based nursery rhymes are among the most popular songs with toddlers and help tremendously in animal recognition.
Children learn and develop in leaps and bounds when they interact with animals. Not only do animals provide friendship and support to little ones, but also help in their emotional development!
We’re sure you too have some animal stories and experiences involving your baby. We’d love to hear from you. Do share your stories and experiences with us!
