Most children are naturally drawn to animals, insects and fish from a young age – we see this in the preschool shows and stories available. Unless there has been a significant negative experience, even the youngest child seems to see animals as different types of “people”. This is significant when considering the importance of ecology and environmental education. But in the early years, it is all about encouraging interest!
A study by Born (2018) identified nature-based preschools developing from the 60s, closely followed by nature-based school camps and most recently, forest schools. While this is good for the environment, the interaction of children with animals has been claimed to be important in developing important life skills like empathy, particularly useful with children on the Autistic spectrum. Especially as it seems that empathy develops because children love animals just because they exist, unlike adults, who love animals for their companionship, beauty, protection or other useful attributes.
Schools and groups with pets claim to keep them because they may help with curriculum goals, reduce classroom stress and anxiety, and may help to develop an interest in and responsibility for the environment. And in play, children will often act out animal behaviours, called “zoomorphism”, or attribute human characteristics to animals, called “anthropomorphism”.
It is hard to know how important or meaningful children’s interactions with animals are, because they are mostly unplanned and unpredictable. And often children will adult model behaviour shown towards specific animals or even species, whether appreciation, fear or disgust. So it is useful to consider different approaches of educating: about animals, for animals, and with animals. Here are a few songs about animals, valuing them for being part of our world:
Doggy Doggy
Doggy doggy where’s your bone
Someone took it from your home
Who has your bone
This is a great song for getting children to practise singing solos through playing a game. Children sing with their eyes closed and the adult chooses the child who sings the last line. The rest of the children guess who sang it!
Old MacDonald
Old MacDonald had a farm
E-I-E-I-O
And on that farm he had a cow
E-I-E-I-O
With a moo-moo here
And a moo-moo there
Here a moo, there a moo
Everywhere a moo-moo
Old MacDonald had a farm
E-I-E-I-O
Old MacDonald had a farm
E-I-E-I-O
And on that farm he had a sheep
E-I-E-I-O
With a baa-baa here
And a baa-baa there
Here a baa, there a baa
Everywhere a baa-baa
Old MacDonald had a farm
E-I-E-I-O
Old MacDonald had a farm
E-I-E-I-O
And on that farm he had a pig
E-I-E-I-O
With an oink-oink here
And an oink-oink there
Here an oink, there an oink
Everywhere an oink-oink
Old MacDonald had a farm
E-I-E-I-O
Old MacDonald had a farm
E-I-E-I-O
And on that farm he had a horse
E-I-E-I-O
With a neigh-neigh here
And a neigh-neigh there
Here a neigh, there a neigh
Everywhere a neigh-neigh
Old MacDonald had a farm
E-I-E-I-O
This lovely familiar song helps to develop children’s vocabulary, facial movement as well as association between animals and the sounds that they make.
Over In The Meadow
Over in the meadow, in the sand, in the sun
Lived an old mother tiger and her
Little tiger, one
Roar, said the mother I roar, said the one
So they roared and they roared
In the sand, in the sun
Over in the meadow, where the stream runs so blue
Lived an old mother elephant and her
Little elephants, two
Stomp, said the mother
We stomp, said the two
So they stomped and they stomped
Where the stream runs so blue
Over in the sky, near a tree
Flew an old mother blue bird and her
Little bluebirds, three
Fly, said the mother
We fly, said the three
So they flew and they flew
In the sky, near the tree
Over in the meadow, in a hive near a door
Lived an old mother bee and her
Little bees, four
Buzz, said the mother
We buzz, said the four
So they buzzed and they buzzes
In the hive near the door
Over in the meadow, in a warren so nice
Lived an old mother rabbit and her
Little bunnies, five
Hop, said the mother
We hop, said the five
So they hopped and they hopped In the warren so nice
Over in the meadow, in a shed near some sticks
Lived an old mother cow and her
Little calves, six
Moo, said the mother
We moo, said the six
So they moo’d and they moo’d
In the shed, near the sticks
Over in the meadow, where the grass is so even
Lived an old mother mouse and her
Little mice, seven
Squeak, said the mother
We squeak, said the seven
So they squeaked and they squeaked
Where the grass is so even
Over in the meadow, by an old mossy gate
Lived an old mother fox and her
Little foxes, eight
Hunt, said the mother
We hunt, said the eight
So they crept and they crept
By the old mossy gate
Over in the meadow, where the quiet pools shine
Lived an old mother froggy and her
Little froggies, nine
Hop, said the mother
We hop, said the nine
So they hopped and they hopped
Where the quiet pools shine
Over in the meadow, in a stream round the bend
Lived an old mother fishy and her
Little fishies, ten
Swim, said the mother
We swim, said the ten
So they swam and they swam
In the stream round the bend
Acting out the animal behaviours brings a tremendous amount of benefit in the early years. Dramatic movement, expression of emotions and the process of watch-learn-do gives children the opportunity to explore their movements and feelings in a safe environment.
Animals are an important aspect of childhood, and finding ways to include them in a child’s education can be a challenging yet exciting venture!
References:
Born, P. (2018). Regarding Animals: A Perspective on the Importance of Animals in Early Childhood Environmental Education. International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education, 5(2), 46–57.
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Get your Little ones Grooving with Musicaliti!
Looking to encourage your child’s love for animals while exploring music and movement? Look no further than Musicaliti! Our program combines the best of both worlds, with interactive songs, rhymes, and activities that feature our furry (and not so furry) friends. From singing about Old MacDonald’s farm to learning the movements of the jungle with our Musical Beasts theme, your little ones will have a blast while developing important skills like coordination, language, and creativity. Our highly developed curriculum ensures that your child will be in good hands while they have fun and learn. So what are you waiting for? Sign up for our resources today and watch your child’s love for music and animals blossom!
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Animal Love
Encourage your child's love for animals while exploring music and movement
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Interactive
Interactive songs, rhymes, and activities that feature our furry (and not so furry) friends
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Proven
Our highly developed curriculum ensures that your child will be in good hands while they have fun and learn
