VISIT TO THE ZOO | WILD ANIMALS | LEARNING BY DOING

Children love to watch animals outside of their storybooks and cartoons. A trip to the zoo is a chance to give life to their imagination and build an emotional connection with animals. Their eyes light up in amusement every time they see the “King of the Jungle” prancing around, giraffes reaching up for higher branches of trees, or tigers flaunting their majestic stripes. Zoo visits enable children to learn about animals effectively, foster cognitive development and promote empathy and compassion. Observing and discussing animals create an interest in conservation and the realization that animals too have feelings and emotions. It wipes out misconceptions like all wild animals are cruel or all parrots are green!

The top five benefits of zoo visits for your children:

They exist for real!
When children see an animal for the first time, it surprises them that it exists for real. They wouldn’t even stop talking about how they saw an actual bear, which until then existed only as their stuffed teddy bear. Such exciting discoveries happen when wild animals from around the world are brought together so that one doesn’t have to travel far and wide – they are all at a reachable distance. It is like having their make-believe world come true.

Sensitivity
With the knowledge that animals are living beings, children develop a greater sensitivity towards their environment and its conservation. It is necessary for them to know that animals too have emotions, just like they do, so that they grow up to be responsible towards nature. Empathizing with animals gives your child a sensitive mindset for other fellow creatures.

Discipline
Children need to respect animals even though they are in cages. They need to comply with the rules of the zoo so that they do not disturb animals. They can’t feed the animals or litter around the area. When children realize that animals are out of their natural comfort zones, they can be taught to respect that. The same discipline can be brought home. Teach your kids’ compassion towards animals.

Animal behavior and habitat
It is intriguing to watch lions roaring and monkeys scratching their heads. Zoo visits help children understand animal behavior and characteristics. Even though some animals are confined in cages, their setting provides a semblance of their natural habitat. Watching animals being their natural selves in their almost natural environment is an immense learning experience for children.

Visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic
Children learn better when they employ all their senses. If they can see, hear and touch animals, they will remember more than being told about them. Auditory learners find it fascinating to listen to animal sounds while visual learners enjoy sight more than sound. Irrespective of what kind of learner your child is, the zoo is the best place for him or her to learn about the animal world.

Innovative learning
Extending learning beyond the classroom walls is a common practice at Winmore Academy, one of the best schools in Bangalore. Other than textbook learning and doing worksheets, our teachers are experts in hands-on learning, giving children the satisfaction and excitement of learning something new. Our regular field trips for students provide them the opportunity to understand the world better and put their knowledge to practicality.