Children Go 'Mad 4 Animals' with Zoo Visit
Dean Park Day Nursery was very fortunate recently to have a visit from a local company called Mad 4 Animals who specialise in teaching children about animals and the natural environment and, best of all, bringing real animals with them for the children to experience for themselves.
Children are fascinated by animals both large and small and, during the visit, the children had the chance to see and touch them – if they felt brave enough. The expert animal handler brought along with him for the children to meet: a snake, an owl, an African snail, a lizard, a hedgehog and a huge, but surprisingly friendly, tarantula.
Seeing and interacting with the animals sparked the children’s curiosity and imagination, which is a theme that was further developed by the story that was shared with them.
The presenter introduced the children to a character called Barnie who features in a specially created storybook that helped reinforce their independent learning, exploring numbers, colours, movement and singing.
Through storytelling, the children learned all about the animals that came to the nursery, exploring the different places where you can find them and looking at the habitats they live in, and what they like to eat.