Learning about Wild Animals

According to the 2019-2020 National Pet Owners Survey, 67% of U.S. households (about 85 million families) own a pet. Most popular pets include freshwater fish, cats, dogs, birds, small animals, reptiles, and horses. So, it is no surprise that kids love animals and love learning more about them.

Learning through Imaginative Play

At Learning Zone, during the month of January, our children are learning about wild animals and the role that wildlife scientists play. Through imaginative play and other activities, they are not only learning about animals, but working on these skills:  

  • small motor control and coordination
  • attention span, organization, and problem solving
  • communication and vocabulary
  • visual discrimination and comparison
  • cooperation and independence

Thinking Like Wildlife Scientists

Our four-year-old class learned about animal habitats. As a wildlife scientist at a zoo, they might need to suggest improvements to zoo animal’s habitats to make the animals healthier and happier. They worked together to create a habitat with loose parts, bouncing ideas around about what would work best. 

Focusing on Polar Bears

Our three-year-old class read the book Polar Bear, Polar Bear What Do You See. This class loves to paint. After reading the book, the children decided they wanted to paint their own picture of a polar bear. They love to use tools other than traditional paint brushes. For this painting activity, the children painted with forks. In addition to the developmental skills listed above, our three-year-olds also worked on reading and vocabulary through these activities.

We Invite You to Join the Learning Zone Family

If you want your child to thrive through imaginative play and hands-on interaction, we invite you to join our family. If you are looking for daycares in Gallatin TN, you’ll be happy to know that one of our newest centers will open in Gallatin in March of this year. We also have locations in Murfreesboro and Nashville. Our Mt. Juliet center will open later this year too.