How Do Animals Move?

1. 1

   Ask which animal your child likes best, then watch a short video of how it moves. If you have a pet, observe it directly.

2. 2

   A cat steps softly and quietly. Move on hands and feet together and see who can travel most quietly and steadily.

3. 3

   A dog also moves on four limbs but may be quicker and more energetic. Try copying a dog running about.

4. 4

   For a turtle, spread your limbs and move slowly. A backpack or sofa cushion can become a pretend shell.

5. 5

   Once several movements are familiar, choose an animal to perform without naming it and let other family members guess.

What to notice

• Uses movements such as crawling or walking on tiptoe to imitate an animal Gross Motor
• Pretends to be a small animal and acts out something it does Creativity

Tips

• When you imitate other animals, notice how each one moves. Does its body sway? Does it hop or stay close to the ground? Focusing on these features makes each animal movement feel distinct.

Developmental benefits

• Movement: Imitating how different animals move gives your child practice adjusting posture, speed, and force while building whole-body coordination and balance.
• Cognitive: Pretending to be different animals invites your child to use movement, facial expression, and sound to represent each animal’s distinctive features.