All in the Family
  
  Introduces how animals care for their young.
  

      

        
Age Range
        
3-6
      
      

        
Skills/Subjects
        
Cooperation
Caring for the very young
      
      

        
Related Episode
        
#102: Baby of a Different Stripe
#103: A Little Help from My Friends
#111: “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow”
      
  
  

 Download the PDF of this activity
  
  Directions

  In this activity, your child will pretend to be a baby animal and you will pretend to 
  be its parent animal. As the play unfolds certain aspects of taking care of the 
  young animal can be highlighted. Encourage your child to lead the game while 
  suggesting different needs and situations that the parent animal and baby may 
  encounter. Is it time to eat? Naptime? All animals need to sleep. And what about 
  bath time?  How do animals keep their babies clean?

  Talk About It
  
  Think about shelter, food, and comfort. Discuss with your child all the ways in which 
  parent animals may take care of their very young by relating the discussion to ways in 
  which human parents provide for their young, using the example of shelter, food, 
  comfort and nurturing.
  
  Explain that the same takes place in the animal kingdom by giving an easy analogy.
  For example, birds build a nest for their eggs; once these hatch the parents feed the 
  young, groom them and teach them to fly.
  
  Take It Further
  
  If space permits, use pillows and blankets to create a shelter or habitat under a 
  table to enhance the fun through pretend play.

  You can also further the discussion by introducing your child to the idea of migration. 
  Explain how sometimes the parent animal and the family need to move to another 
  location in search of food, shelter and comfort - and that this move is a family 
  activity achieved through cooperation. Use the mazes provided to make sure the 
  animal babies stay close to their parents and family on the way!