by Laura Leigh Fields

Created on: May 01, 2007   Last Updated: May 22, 2007

An animal is a very common learning tool for young children. Animals seem intriguing because they are like us but they are different. For a child this is something fun and exciting. It is something appealing. Young children love to learn this is the perfect place to start.

At an early age, children learn to communicate through sounds. This is the same for animals. Kids love to mimic the sounds animals make. They like to pretend that they are the animals they are imitating. This is a great way for a child to use their imagination, also.

Baby or small animals may give a child the idea of nurturing. Young children like to carry their pet around everywhere, and can be overly cuddly. A pet is a good way to teach a child responsibility, at the appropriate age, of course.

Animals are everywhere. There are many popular animal products, such as The See and Say, which has been popular for years. There are wooden horses, rocking horses, and stuffed teddy bears. Winnie the Pooh is popular, as is Tom and Jerry, Scooby Doo, and the donkey from Shrek. Animals are innocent to an extent and make a good role model for a small child.

Kids also see an appeal in the possible danger of an animal. Thank Steve Erwin for that. Kids like adventure. They like the possibility of seeing something cool. They do not think of long term possibilities when encountering a creature in the wild. Some children may even enjoy a hunt at a young age, if nothing more than the thrill of the chase.

There are a lot worse things a child could want to learn about. As a parent, urge your child to learn all they can stand. Encourage animal play, and any type of play that encourages creativity. Interact with small children ask them to make the animal noises for you or teach them animal rhymes. Teach them the story of Noah's Ark. Use your imagination to encourage theirs.

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