Do you have an animal loving child at home? Encouraging a love and passion towards animals is not only good to improve compassion, but provides lots of learning opportunities too. Here are a few fun activities for animal loving kids that you could consider to keep them occupied, all involving animals!
Keeping fish
Keeping fish is a great hobby and something you can really get into with your children. Decide if you want to keep fresh water, salt water or tropical fish, and go about building it up over time. You can add a new fish, decoration or living rock to your tank every few weeks, and go to the pet store together to pick it out- it's something kids could spend their pocket money on. It can be great watching your tank thrive and evolve over time, and you'll all learn so much. There are plenty of books and articles online that you can go to for advice.
Photo by Delbert Pagayona on Unsplash
Horse riding
Horses are incredible animals, and most of us are fascinated with them- especially in childhood. So getting up close to them and the opportunity to ride a horse is a real treat. Not only is horse riding good exercise and a lot of fun, but you get the novelty of spending time close to these majestic creatures. See if there are any classes nearby, and visit an Equi Supermarket to get everything your child will need- such as boots, a helmet and a saddle.
Visiting the farm or zoo
It's one thing to teach children about animals in books and online but it's different to see them for themselves- the sounds, the smells, the way they interact. Zoos can be fairly expensive but they make great family days out, if you're concerned about cost consider visiting off peak or keep an eye out for vouchers. Farms are cheap and cheerful and chances are you have one locally, it's a chance to get up close to sheep, pigs, chickens and other animals and during the spring you might be allowed to hold or feed the baby animals.
Photo by Sam Carter on Unsplash
Going on a safari
If you have a bigger budget and are planning your next family getaway, something like a safari would be captivating for animal loving kids. Here you'll get to see really impressive animals, from elephants and giraffes to lions, monkeys, buffalo and all kinds of birds and smaller animals. Places like Africa are best known for their safaris, but even destinations like Disney have authentic looking safaris set up which allow you to see these kinds of animals in their natural environment.
Nature walks
Nature walks are a great way to spend time with the family. They keep you active and are a chance to see different kinds of animals. Head to your local park or woods and you'll see birds, perhaps rabbits, maybe even an occasional fox or deer! You could look for different species of butterflies and insects, there are worksheets you can print off from Pinterest that your kids can tick things off as you go to make things even more fun and interactive. You could even opt for a more organised activity such as a Maize Maze and see what creatures you can spot in your surroundings.
Ant farms and sea monkeys
Ant farms and sea monkeys are wonderful ways for kids to learn more about these types of animals. You can buy them online and they're fascinating to watch. Ant farms can be made out of things like fish tanks or even an old bottle, there are lots of tutorials that can show you how to do this. It's a fun project to do with your kids and then an ongoing project from there. Ant farms are safe and ethical, just be careful that it doesn't get knocked over or spilled or you could end up with an ant infestation.
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