Animals

Young children love to explore all types of living things. Animals are especially exciting because of the ways they move, communicate and interact. And of course, people are also members of the animal kingdom. That means children can investigate themselves as they explore animals! The types of wild animals you and your three-year-old observe will depend partly on your geographical location and whether you live in a rural, suburban or urban area, but animals are everywhere! What deer, squirrels, birds, turtles, frogs, fish or small critters — such as worms, snails, spiders and insects — will you find in your corner of the world? As you and your child explore animals outdoors, you will observe them interacting with the environment as they move about, look for food and make shelters. You may also investigate pets or farm animals. These early explorations lay the foundation for your child’s understanding of animals — including people — as living things with characteristics, needs and an environment that meets their needs. Three-year-olds are learning about many different animals, their sizes, shapes, colors and sounds. They associate animals with specific environments — fish and frogs live in ponds and insects live in the grass, for example. They are curious about animals’ body parts and how they work — including their own — and begin to understand that other animals have needs just like they do. Young children are very sensitive to how their parents and other role models respond to animals. If your child observes that you are scared of dogs or disgusted by worms, for example, they are likely to respond the same way. Of course, you will want to teach your three-year-old to be safe around wild and unfamiliar animals, but most of the animals your child will investigate — with the exception of biting dogs and stinging insects — pose no threat. You are the best person to help your child become a self-confident and safety-conscious animal explorer.