Discover what children learn by playing with animals

by Joost Nusselder Updated on: March 23, 2023

Playing with animals is a fun way to introduce children to the world of animals. Do playing with animals help children develop?

Children can learn a lot from animals. For example, they learn empathy and respect for animals. They also develop their language skills and creativity by making an animal scene. Some children are even so enthusiastic that they lose themselves in the role of an animal.

In this article I tell you exactly what children can learn from playing with animals and how you can best approach it.

A play theme in your mailbox every month?

Fun play tips, activity books and more, with the first email being our free mini-guide "educational toys"

Yes I want that!

We will only use your email address for this newsletter and respect your privacy

Teach your child about animals with toy figures

Playing with animals is not only fun for children, but also important for their development. It helps them get to know and understand different kinds of animals, as well as develop empathy and respect for other living creatures. Toy figures provide a fun and educational way to introduce children to the world of animals.

The benefits of playing with toy figures

Toy figures are very realistic and tactile, giving children a sense of what the animals look and feel like. The eyes of the animals shine and some models even have a tactile nose or snout. This makes playing with toy figures not only fun, but also very educational.

The different categories of toy figures

There is a wide variety of toy figures, including farm animals, forest animals, horse breeds, insects and mammals. There are dozens of different models available within each category, including popular animals such as the cow, hippo, dolphin and alligator. Complete sets are also available, such as riding lessons with saddles and other horse items.

Fun games and interesting facts

With toy figures, children can not only play, but also learn. There are various games and activities available for children to test and expand their knowledge of animals. Books are also available with interesting facts about certain animals, including the Chinese and American alligator.

Play a play with animals to teach children new skills

Children are naturally curious and eager to explore. Playing with animals can help with this as it gives them a chance to learn about different species and how they behave. It also makes children consider the needs of others, such as caring for pets and taking responsibility for their well-being. In addition, playing with animals can de social skills improve children's empathy.

What is animal drama and how can it help children?

Animal theater is a creative way for children to play with animals. It is a form of role play where children put themselves in the role of an animal or a caretaker. They can use their own techniques and creativity to imitate and care for the animals. This can range from feeding a cat to walking a dog. Through this activity, children not only learn about the different animals, but also develop their language skills and sense of responsibility.

How do you make an animal scene?

You don't need much to make an animal scene. Here are some tips:

• Think about which animals you want to play as and make a list of the supplies, such as face paint, masks and starter packs.
• Make the play as realistic as possible by imitating sounds and movements of the animals.
• Make it extra fun by using a musical background that matches the animal you're playing.
• Involve the parents in the play so they can help create the costumes and come up with the storyline.
• Go outside and discover the natural environment in which the animals live. You can think of farm animals in the countryside or pets in the city.

What are the benefits of playing with animals?

Playing with animals has many benefits for children, including:

• Developing social skills and empathy.
• Improving language skills and creativity.
• Discovering new techniques and skills.
• Taking responsibility for the care of animals.
• Learning about different animal species and their behavior.
• It provides fun and fascination.
• It gives support and love to children.

Creative with animals: fun activities for children

Modeling is a very suitable activity for children to express their creativity. Let your children have them fantasy run wild and discover which animal species they can create. Even the little ones can easily clay and knead with soft clay. Ask them what animals they want to make and let them create their favorite animal or fantasy animal. It's also fun to come up with a story for the animal they made.

Make sounds of animals

Children often enjoy imitating the sounds of animals. Let them hear the sounds of different animals and ask if they can imitate them. Not only is this fun, but it can also improve children's language skills.

Activity card with animals

There are millions of animal species in the world and new ones are discovered every year. Introduce your children to different animals through an activity card. This card contains various activities related to animals, such as drawing a picture of their favorite animal or feeling the fur of a soft animal.

Feeling and smelling farm animals

Farm animals are very suitable for introducing children to different animals. Let your children feel and smell the animals and tell them about the different species. Not only is this fun, but kids also learn about the different traits of animals.

Create a beautiful artwork of animals

Let your kids express their creativity by making a beautiful artwork of animals. This can be done, for example, by painting, drawing or crafting. Let them choose which techniques they want to use and which animals they want to make.

Create your own zoo

Let your kids put together their own zoo using toy animals. Not only is this fun, but it can also improve children's social skills. Let them work together to put the animals in the right place and make a beautiful whole.

In short, there are many fun activities with animals for children. Let their creativity run wild and discover new things together.

Playing with animals: Creative and educational activities for children

Plastic animals are a great way to introduce children to different animal species. Put a number of animals on the table and let children sort them by size, color or type of animal. Make it even more fun by using cubes or chopping blocks to make pens for the animals. Children can also count the parts of the animals, such as legs, tail and ears.

Create an animal environment in a bin or sand table

Use a bin or sand table to create an animal environment. Put grass, grains or sand in the container and add plastic farm animals, dinosaurs or sea creatures. Children can model the animals with clay and make impressions of their legs or tails. They can also make a drinking bowl for the animals.

Play zoo or farm

Let children have their own zoo or farm make with plastic animals. They can sort the animals by species and put them in pens. Kids can also come up with names for each animal species and learn about the different sounds the animals make.

Learn language skills and sounds with animals

Use animals to teach language skills and sounds. Let kids spell out the names of different animals and chop the sounds of the letters. For example: Pig. Children can also make animals with clay and imitate the sounds of the animals, such as a pig's grunt or a lion's roar.

Playing with animals is not only fun, but also very suitable for the development of children. It helps develop their senses, language skills, fine motor skills and social skills. Try out these activities and see how much fun kids can have while learning about the animal world around them.

How do animals affect children?

Having a pet can play an important role in a child's development. It can help teach responsibility and develop social skills. For example, children learn how to care for an animal, how to feed it and how to care for it. This can help develop empathy and show love and care for others. Having a pet can also provide comfort and be an energetic and playful companion for children.

Positive effects of animals on children

Research shows that children who grow up with pets score better on social skills and have fewer complaints about feelings of loneliness. In addition, having a pet seems to have a positive effect on the personal development of children. For example, it can help develop self-confidence and reduce stress and anxiety.

Safety and caution

It is important to emphasize that having a pet also entails responsibility. Children need to learn how to handle animals safely and how to be careful. Some animal species, such as dogs and cats, can cause pain if not handled properly. It is therefore important that children learn how to deal with animals and that parents guide their children in this.

Other forms of animal contact

In addition to owning a pet, there are other ways children can come into contact with animals. For example, by visiting the zoo, watching documentaries about animals or playing with toy animals. This can help you discover different animal species and learn about their behavior and habitat.

Important factors in animal contact

It is important to emphasize that not all children react the same to animal contact. Some children are naturally more cautious and take longer to get used to an animal. In addition, personal factors, such as age and experience, can play a role in how children respond to animals. It is therefore important to always guide children properly in contact with animals and to look at their individual needs and reactions.

Research: Playing with animals has positive effects on children's development

Playing with animals also offers children the opportunity to develop different skills. For example, they learn to take care of another being and to deal with rules and boundaries. In addition, research shows that children who play with animals deal more easily with stressful situations and are better able to regulate themselves.

Pets as safe and rewarding interactions

Owning a pet can be a safe and rewarding way for children to interact with other living creatures. This is why it is important that parents give their children the opportunity to play with animals and teach them how to deal with the needs of the animal. While some parents are concerned about the safety of their children, research shows that interactions between children and pets are generally safe.

Similarities between playing with animals and sports

Playing with animals also has similarities with sports. It offers children the opportunity to move and play in a safe and familiar environment. In addition, playing with animals can contribute to the development of social skills and increase self-esteem.

Scientific research into playing with animals

Although much is already known about the positive effects of playing with animals on children's development, the aspect of the psychological benefits of playing with animals remains underexposed. For this reason, several research projects have been started to find more clues about the influence of animals on children. These experiments show that playing with animals is a rewarding activity for children and that it can contribute to healthy psychological development.

How playing with animals can promote children's social-emotional development

When children play with animals, they can develop positive feelings and improve their social skills. For example, having pets can easily establish contacts with other people and children. It's nice to see how children touch animals and notice how happy it makes them. When children are afraid of an animal, it can be a good response to learn to think about how to approach the animal without fear.

Empathy and identity development

Playing with animals can also help develop empathy. Children learn to distinguish between different types of animals and see how they behave. They also learn how to care for animals and how to understand their needs. This can contribute to their identity development and developing their self-esteem.

Interaction and topic of conversation

Animals can also be an important topic of conversation between children and their classmates. For example, having a pet can be a way to make new contacts and talk about their own experiences with animals. It can also help overcome negative experiences with animals.

Observations and experiences

Playing with animals can help children explore nature and learn about different types of animals. It can also help overcome fears of scary critters like insects. By looking at how insects move and how they smell, children can expand their perceptions and experiences.

All in all, playing with animals can have a positive impact on children's social-emotional development. It promotes interaction with others, improves social skills and can contribute to the development of empathy and identity development.

How playing with animals improves children's social skills

Having a pet can be a great way for children to learn about social skills and interacting with others. Children can learn how to care for an animal and how to communicate with their pet. This can help develop empathy, responsibility, and the ability to communicate with others.

Playing with animals can help children communicate better

Playing with animals can help children communicate better and improve their social skills. Children can learn how to communicate with their pet and how to respond to their pet's reactions. This can help develop their ability to communicate with others and understand how others are feeling.

Children learn to be careful and considerate of others

Playing with animals can teach children to be careful and considerate of others. Children learn that animals have feelings and that they should be careful when interacting with animals. This can help develop empathy and the ability to be considerate of others.

Animals can help children deal with loss and emotions

Having a pet can help children deal with loss and emotions. When a pet dies, it can be a difficult experience for children. It can help them learn how to deal with loss and emotions and help them understand how others feel.

Animals can have a positive influence on the development of children

Research has shown that animals can have a positive impact on children's development. Children who grow up with pets often have better social skills and are better able to communicate with others. In addition, animals can help children learn to deal with stress and anxiety.

Safety and caution are important when interacting with animals

While playing with animals has many benefits, it is important to be careful and ensure the safety of the child and the animal. Children need to learn how to handle animals safely, and parents need to make sure the animals they have in their homes are safe for children.

Empathy: What children learn about showing feelings by interacting with animals

Empathy means the ability to understand and feel another person's emotions. It is an important skill that children must learn in order to interact well with others. Multiple studies show that having pets, such as dogs or cats, can lead to a strong bond between the child and the animal. This, in turn, can lead to developing empathy and showing feelings.

Empathy and the development of social skills

Handling animals can teach children to show empathy for others and to understand how others feel. This can help develop social skills and make children better able to communicate with others. Children who show empathy for animals are often more empathetic towards their fellow human beings.

Investigations and clues

There have been several studies on the relationship between empathy and animal behavior. These studies provide evidence that pet ownership may contribute to the development of empathy in children. This is especially the case with children who have a strong bond with their pet.

Conclusion

Let's face it, kids playing with animals is one of the most fun things they can do. It helps them develop empathy and respect for animals and stimulate their curiosity. It is one of the best ways to explore their creativity and improve their sense of responsibility.

Getting kids interested in animals is one of the best ways to explore their creativity and improve their sense of responsibility. Let's make an animal scene and let their imagination run wild.

Joost Nusselder, the founder of Speelkeuze.nl is a content marketer, father and loves trying out new toys. As a child he came into contact with everything related to games when his mother started the Tinnen Soldaat in Ede. Now he and his team create helpful blog articles to help loyal readers with fun play ideas.