It’s no secret that young children love animals. And my daughter is no exception. My husband and I have been taking her to visit the zoo since she was only a couple of months old. Over time, she learned to act out the animals through zoo yoga poses for kids before she could speak the names. She also pointed out her favorite zoo animals in books. She would talk about, act out, and read about zoo animals.
Often we would go to the zoo near our house west of Boston. To get ready for our trip, we brought out zoo animal books, picked out zoo animal figurines, and practiced our zoo animal poses. We enjoyed our day at the zoo together as a family!
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Zoo Books for Kids
Here are a few zoo books that we enjoy before and after going to the zoo:
Never, Ever Shout in a Zoo by Karma Wilson and Doug CushmanAnimal Strike at the Zoo. It’s True! by Karma Wilson and Margaret SpenglerWild About Books by Judy Sierra and Marc BrownZ Is for Zookeeper: A Zoo Alphabet by Marie and Roland Smith, and Henry ColeThe Wheels on the Bus: A Read-along Sing-along Trip to the Zoo by Jeanne Willis and Adam StowerOn the Loose in Boston by Sage StosselNever Play Music Right Next to the Zoo by John Lithgow and Leeza HernandezMy Visit to the Zoo by AlikiA Day at a Zoo by Sarah HarrisonABC Zoo by Rod CampbellThe View at the Zoo by Kathleen Long Bostrom and Guy Francis
Zoo Books for Kids
Check Out this Zoo Book List from our Friends at Growing Book by Book.
5 Zoo Yoga Poses for Kids
After gathering our zoo animal books together, we chose five animals that appeared in the books to act out through yoga poses for kids. Try the five yoga poses below with your children. These are suggested yoga poses, and you can certainly change or adapt according to your child’s interest, age, and enthusiasm. What other zoo animals could they pretend to be?
1. Elephant – Wide-Legged Standing Forward Bend
How to practice wide-legged standing forward bend: Stand tall with legs hip-width apart, feet facing forward, and straighten your arms alongside your body. Step your feet out wide, bend your upper body, and clasp your hands together. Sway your arms like the trunk of an elephant.
Wide-legged standing forward
2. Crocodile – Plank Pose
How to practice plank pose: Come down to balance on your palms and on your bent toes in a plank position. Keep your arms straight and your back long and flat. Hold steady for a few breaths, ensuring a straight line from your head to your toes. Pretend to be a crocodile.
Plank pose
3. Bear – Bear Walk or Downward-Facing Dog Pose
How to practice downward facing dog pose: From all fours, lift your knees to an upside-down V shape, with your buttocks up in the air. Ensure that your palms are flat on the ground and that your spine and legs are straight. Press your heels toward the ground and look back through your legs. Walk like a bear.
Downward-facing dog
4. Tiger – Cat Pose
How to practice cat pose: On all fours, round your back and tuck your chin into your chest. Pretend to be a tiger.
Cat pose
5. Hippo – Child’s Pose
How to practice child’s pose: Sitting on your heels, slowly bring your forehead down to rest on the floor in front of your knees. Rest your arms down alongside your body and take a few deep breaths. Pretend to be a hippo resting in the water.
Child’s pose
Download the Zoo Animals Yoga Poster
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Watch the Zoo Animals Yoga Poses Video
Visit Zoo Animals
Not only can you practice these fun zoo animal yoga poses at home, but try them at the zoo! And make up the poses as you go along. What pose could you do for this anteater that we saw at the zoo?!
Spanish Language Activities for Zoo Animals
We were excited to find a sign with the English and Spanish translations of zoo animals at the zoo yesterday. Did you know we also have Spanish yoga books? This post is part of our Learn Spanish and Kids Yoga through Books series co-hosted by Spanish Playground. Check out her article on Spanish zoo animals activities with printable zoo animal cards, zoo story ideas, zoo songs, and zoo websites.Â
May We Suggest
Zoo Yoga Cards for Kids
Kids Yoga Monthly
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