As a mom, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when it comes to ensuring your child is hitting all their milestones. From toys to videos to books, there’s an endless sea of choices, and it can be hard to know where to start or which resources to trust.
I get it—I'm not a professional expert, but I’ve spent time teaching toddlers at church, through my work at a model and talent agency, and now as a mom myself. As a mom, I wanted: a simple, organized place with affordable, fun, and effective learning resources that would make teaching my child feel less overwhelming.
So, I created this series of resources just for you.
In this guide, we’ll dive into teaching your little one about animals! Whether you’re a caregiver, a teacher, or a parent, these tools and ideas are designed to make learning fun and stress-free. Best of all? Most of these resources are free because teaching your child should be about fostering curiosity and growth—not adding stress to your wallet or piling on extra tasks."
Table of Contents
Learning Concepts
By introducing animals to your child, you’re not just expanding their vocabulary—you’re helping them connect to the world around them! Here are some key concepts to focus on:
Basic Animal Names: Recognize and name animals like dogs, cats, and cows.
Animal Sounds: Learn the unique sounds animals make (e.g., "Moo!" for cows, "Woof!" for dogs).
Where Animals Live: Explore habitats like farms, jungles, and oceans.
How Animals Move: Hop, swim, and fly like different animals.
Animal Sizes: Compare animals by their size—big, small, tall, short.
Colors & Shapes of Animals: Recognize the colors and shapes of animals (e.g., a brown bear, a round turtle).
Animal Habits: Learn about what animals eat and how they live.
Where to See Animals: Introduce locations like zoos, farms, and aquariums where animals live.
Interactive Learning Resources
Fun & Engaging Activities
Interactive play is a fantastic way to help your child grasp animal concepts. Here are a few fun activities to try:
Animal Flashcard Match-Up
Use animal flashcards or use toy animals, and match them with images of the same animals. For added fun, make the corresponding animal sound or act out its movements!
Animal Movement Games
Encourage your child to move like animals. Hop like a bunny, swim like a fish, or stomp like an elephant. This helps develop motor skills while reinforcing animal vocabulary.
Animal Sounds Game
Make animal sounds and have your child guess which animal is making the noise. Or, if they’re older, take turns making the sounds and see who can make the best animal impression!
Visit a Farm, Zoo, or Aquarium (Virtually or In-Person!)
Take your little one to a farm, zoo, or aquarium to see real-life animals.
📚 Books About Animals
Books are one of the best ways to teach young children about animals. Especially interactive books such as sound books, peek-a-boo books, and sensory books. Here are some interactive options:
There are also many free read-aloud versions of your children's favorite books on YouTube. One of my favorite read-aloud channels is Vooks, which has dynamic and animated read-aloud books.
Noisy Baby Animals - My First Series - Buy on Amazon
Where's The Panda? - by Injela P Arrhenius - Where's the... Series - Buy on Amazon
Books with Read Alouds:
Llama Llama Red Pajama - by Anne Dewdney - Read Aloud Here
Who Said Moo? - by Harriet Ziefert - Read Aloud Here
The Wonky Donkey - by Craig Smith - Read Aloud Here by Vooks
You can check out more children's books about animals on my Pinterest Board here.
🎵 Songs About Animals
Songs make learning stick, especially when they're full of animal sounds and movements. Try these fun tunes:
I Have A Pet - by Super Simple Songs - Listen Here
Old MacDonald Had A Farm - by Super Simple Songs - Listen Here
5 Little Ducks - by Super Simple Songs - Listen Here
🎬 Videos About Animals
Sometimes, a well-crafted video can bring animals to life, especially if your little one enjoys visual learning. Here’s one to try:
Farm Animals for Kids - by Smile & Learn - Watch Here
Learn Zoo Animals - by Paisley's Corner - Watch Here
Toy Ideas
Here are some toy ideas that can make animal learning even more engaging and fun:
Animal Puzzles: Encourage problem-solving while teaching animal identification and improving hand-eye coordination. Option: Farm Animal Matching Toys
Animal Matching Toys: Promote animal identification, fine motor skills, and creativity. Option: Farm Animal Matching Toys
Animal Flashcards: Great for expanding vocabulary and improving visual learning and memory. Option: Touch & Feel Explore Sensory Flashcards
Pro Tips for Teaching Animals
To make animal learning more effective and enjoyable, try these tips:
Start with the Basics
Begin with simple animals that are familiar to your child. Focus on farm animals like cows, dogs, and cats, or household pets that your little one may recognize.
Use Interactive Activities
Kids learn best when they’re actively involved! Incorporate animal movements, sounds, and games into your routine to make learning stick.
Use Books & Pictures
Don’t just read to your child—ask them to point to animals in the pictures, or encourage them to identify the animals as you read aloud.
Keep Language Simple and Repetitive
Toddlers thrive on repetition. Keep animal names and sounds simple, and repeat them often to reinforce learning.
Integrate Animal Vocabulary into Daily Life
Use animal words throughout the day—"Look, a bird outside!" or "Let’s hop like frogs!" This helps reinforce what your child is learning.
Expand as They Grow
Once your child has mastered the basics, start introducing more complex concepts—such as animal habitats, movements, and sizes.
Wrapping It Up
Teaching your little one about animals can be a fun and rewarding journey. With these simple, affordable resources, you're all set to explore the animal kingdom through books, songs, games, and hands-on activities that will help build vocabulary and curiosity.
Remember, there’s no perfect way to teach—just find what works for you and enjoy the process together. And to make it even easier, I’ve included a FREE Lesson Plan Template to help you organize these activities into an actionable plan.
If you loved this resources, don’t miss our other learning guides on ABCs, 123s, and more. I can’t wait to share even more fun ideas with you!
📝 Download Your Activity Planner!
I know it can be tough to pull everything together, so I’ve created a FREE Child Activity Planner to help you turn these resources into an actionable, organized plan for teaching. It’s an easy way to incorporate these activities and ideas into your day-to-day routine. Simply download it and start planning your next learning adventure!
👉 Download the Activity Planner Here:
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