Activity: Pet Friendly
Help your child better understand how to be a good friend to a pet (or someone else's pet) in a whole new kind of way!
Materials:
Books, magazines, or photos about pets
Directions:
First, spend some time looking at books, pet magazines, or at family photos that include pets. Become more familiar with pet species, common names, and other interesting information about different types of pets. Help your child better understand how people take care of their pets and to recognize the importance of caring for a pet by using the following list. Afterwards, reward your child's efforts to learn more about how to be a good friend to a pet by inviting a friend over to join him/her in watching everyone's favorite cartoon pet, Clifford the Big Red Dog!
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Talk to at least two pet owners to find out how they care for their pets and how they enjoy their pets. |
| ___ |
Visit your local bookstore to discover the many books filled with amazing information written for pet and animal lovers. |
| ___ |
Visit a local pet store and explore food, toys, housing, and supplies that are available. |
| ___ |
Observe a professional groomer. Make sure to notice the many tools and supplies needed to groom an animal, and be sure to ask the groomer about costs and how often certain pets need grooming. |
| ___ |
Make a short visit to the local veterinarian's clinic. |
| ___ |
Learn about a famous pet through books or the Internet (with supervision) and share that pet's story with a good friend. |
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Congratulations! You did it, good friend!
Talk about It: Ask your child to name his/her favorite pets. For those pets that he/she is most interested in, find out more information through books, television, or the Internet, with supervision, of course! Then talk about ways that pet owners can make life more pleasant and safe for pets around the house.
Take it Further: Inspire your child to begin a lifetime journey of discovery into the world of pets and animals by using these fun ideas:
- Start a personal pets and animal library.
- Attend pet shows to observe care and grooming techniques.
- Join local pet organizations and participate in events.
- Attend museum exhibits to explore how artist use animals in art.
- Visit zoos and inquire about programs that include young children.
With a Group: If you have a local zoo in your area, there's nothing so exciting for young children than to see the many different kinds of animals that a zoo habitat can provide. For some children, this may be the only opportunity they have to see how long a real giraffe's neck is or how observe how an elephant takes a bath! Schedule time to interview the zoo keeper(s) to learn about how they care for the animals. Visiting the zoo is a great time to have a picnic and enjoy, first hand, some of Mother Nature's most incredible creatures. For those that don't have access to a zoo close by, visit a local petting zoo, farm, pet store, or local kennel or pet breeding facility.
