Sensory Activities for Preschoolers About Animals

Barnyard Circle

• Have each child pick a stuffed animal, book or toy that represents a farm animal. Arrange the children in a circle and place one of their items in the center of the circle. Next, ask the children to tell you everything they know about the animal being represented, including its size, coloration, texture, sounds, smell and movements. Use prompting if necessary. If you can think of a simple story for the animal in question, be sure to tell it. Some good examples are "The Three Little Pigs" or "Peter Rabbit." Repeat this process for every child's object.

Petting Zoo

• There are few animal activities more sensory rich than visiting a petting zoo. Many towns hold fairs during the summer that feature a free petting zoo. Consider taking your children to one of these. As they pet each animal, ask them questions about how the animal's fur or skin feels, what it smells like, what sounds it makes and it how it looks. Afterwards, ask them each to draw a picture of their favorite animal.

Animal Clue

• Print various pictures of animals and give one to each child. Tell them that when it is their turn, they need to pretend to be that animal. They should keep their animal secret so that the rest of the children will have a chance to guess what they are. One at a time, ask each child to describe one physical characteristic of their selected animal and then allow them to imitate the animal by using movement and sound. Let the child continue until one of their peers guesses the animal correctly.

Sensory Zoo

• Set up a zoo at home or in your classroom. To do this, set some shoe-boxes on a table to represent the cages or habitats. In each one, place a small stuffed animal or toy. It is a good idea to choose items that feel close to the real thing. For example, a plush lamb is appropriate while a soft alligator is not. For animals that feel more rough, select plastic figurines. If you can find stuffed animals that make noise when squeezed, be sure to include them. Let the children play with the zoo during their free time.