{"id":1233,"date":"2025-04-16T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/2012\/03\/baby-time-i-have-a-zoo-in-my-backyard.html"},"modified":"2025-05-09T10:07:11","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T14:07:11","slug":"baby-time-i-have-zoo-in-my-backyard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/baby-time-i-have-zoo-in-my-backyard\/","title":{"rendered":"A Zoo in My Backyard? Discovering Wildlife with My Baby"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Turn everyday moments into adventures with a zoo in my backyard for babies\u2014spot real animals and insects while enjoying simple, sensory-rich nature play.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/backyard-zoo-with-your-baby-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Discovering Backyard zoo with your baby\" class=\"wp-image-83254\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/backyard-zoo-with-your-baby-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/backyard-zoo-with-your-baby-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/backyard-zoo-with-your-baby-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/backyard-zoo-with-your-baby-400x600.jpg 400w, https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/backyard-zoo-with-your-baby-600x900.jpg 600w, https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/backyard-zoo-with-your-baby.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Babies and Toddlers are naturally&nbsp;interested in&nbsp;animals. Many&nbsp;times your family pet&nbsp;ends up being one of your babies&nbsp;first words.&nbsp;Then they begin to discover animal toys, our toy animals currently get lined up one by one when she&#8217;s playing with them and carried all around the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her next thing she loves is the&nbsp;animal books.&nbsp;My little one loves talking to the kittens and touching&nbsp;the fur in it.&nbsp;Although these are all important to her development, it&#8217;s just not the real thing.&nbsp; It is my hope that your baby&nbsp;starts to discover the animals that live all around us first and gets excited to&nbsp;go outside.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We&#8217;re working on the sign &#8220;Outside&#8221; at our house, here&#8217;s how you sign for &#8220;Outside&#8221; from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.signingtime.com\/2010\/06\/22\/sign-of-the-week-outside\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Signing Time<\/a>&nbsp;using sign language.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/PHOTOS2-1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/PHOTOS2.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Exploring your own Zoo in My Backyard with your Baby<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Take your children outside on adventures. We spend our\u00a0mornings in the yard and\u00a0discovered we live at the zoo!\u00a0Well, not really , but to my daughter\u00a0it feels\u00a0like it.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We were searching and discovering animals on a daily basis. I love how she carefully watches and observes everything that\u00a0surround her in this environment.\u00a0She is starting to get very excited with her little\u00a0dancing\u00a0feet when she sees something new moving.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Did you know at this age you can teach your baby and toddlers&nbsp;about SCIENCE?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What animals can you discover with your baby in your yard?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Mammals<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>My baby&nbsp;discovered that many squirrels live in our yard.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They&nbsp;like to run&nbsp; and climb up trees and dig in the ground<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They also eat those brown acorns&nbsp;on the ground that she loves to pick up at try to eat herself.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>She also discovered that the cat has a tail just like a squirrel.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Birds<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>My&nbsp;baby&nbsp;discovered that the birds fly back and forth from the trees and talk to each other.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>She&nbsp;discovered that they even come to the bird feeder to eat.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>She &nbsp;discovered that they can be different colors and different sizes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They also come to the birdbath for water (still waiting for her to see how they take baths)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Here are some <a href=\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/baby-time-staying-at-home-is-for-birds\/\">Bird Activities<\/a> for your baby &amp; toddler<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Amphibians<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>My baby discovered that a frog likes to live on our chair on the back porch.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>She discovered that it likes to jump when you try to touch it.&nbsp; (can&#8217;t wait for tadpoles to arrive)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Here is Rainy Day Mum family&#8217;s experience with <a href=\"https:\/\/rainydaymum.co.uk\/exploring-outdoors-frog-hunting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Frog Hunting<\/a> &amp; <a href=\"https:\/\/rainydaymum.co.uk\/frog-books\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Frog Books<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Fish<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>My baby discovered that fish swim very fast when you approach.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>She also discovered they come back when you throw food into the water.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We are very lucky that we have our own little pond in our yard, but you could always have a goldfish bowl or aquarium in your house.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Reptiles<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>My baby&nbsp;discovered that a lizard climbs up on the pot on the front porch.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>(Thank goodness we did not discover a snake yet, although&nbsp;pretend ones keep us busy)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Insects<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>My baby discovered that a grasshopper sitting on our peas&nbsp;could&nbsp;jump as she tried to touch it!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>She also discovered a ladybug that flew away when she tried to touch it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>She found out that the bright yellow butterflies fly away very quickly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/IMG_2741blog-1-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"How to make your yard a trip to the zoo for your baby or toddler\" class=\"wp-image-13051\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/IMG_2741blog-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/IMG_2741blog-1-600x800.jpg 600w, https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/IMG_2741blog-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/IMG_2741blog-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is&nbsp;my baby learning outdoors?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>My baby is learning all about the world around here.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>She learned that there are all types of animals.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>She learned that animals can move in different ways.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>She also learned that they can make different noises.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>All skills of observation and knowledge in science.&nbsp;Learning starts from the very beginning!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The skills she is learning outside with me are far better than any skills she&#8217;ll learn watching a TV.\u00a0Although I know it most certainly takes more effort, it&#8217;s our jobs as a child&#8217;s first teacher to give them these\u00a0opportunities every day throughout the day to engage in nature and to explore their surroundings inside and outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Enjoy simple, sensory-rich activities that connect your baby with nature.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/fishblog-1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/fishblog.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How do I connect with animals at playtime?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Outdoor time is so important!&nbsp;It&#8217;s also important to let your child find ways to explore&nbsp;those concepts in play.&nbsp;Connecting the outdoors is very easy.&nbsp; Just find a few toys that represent what you&#8217;re finding outdoors.&nbsp;Connecting through books &amp; toys is just what they need to begin to develop their imagination.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We have found fish, squirrels, birds, frogs, ladybugs, and so those are the toys we are exploring and playing with right now.\u00a0Don&#8217;t feel like you have to own all of these things&#8230; sometimes playgroups are a great way to exchange a concept. I&#8217;m waiting for a friend&#8217;s zoo animals to arrive at my house any day!\u00a0Can&#8217;t wait!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/IMG_2814-1.jpg\" alt=\"Connecting outdoor animals with playtime inside, tips for babies and toddlers\" class=\"wp-image-13054\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/IMG_2814-1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/IMG_2814-1-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Ready for more Animals? Take a Baby&nbsp;&amp; Toddler Field Trip<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Top Ten Places to Take Go to See Animals with your Baby<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your Yard<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Park<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Farm<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Duck Pond<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Zoo<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pet Store<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Neighbors&#8217; Pet<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ocean<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>River<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check your local area&#8230; you might be surprised what type of rescued animals need your support&nbsp;and are available for a fun time.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>I hope you enjoy finding a Zoo in your backyard, front yard, neighborhood and community.&nbsp;Giving children the opportunity to experience little moments like this with real-life creatures is so important to their development!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/IMG_2352-1-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"places to observe animals with babies and toddlers \" class=\"wp-image-13055\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/IMG_2352-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/IMG_2352-1-600x800.jpg 600w, https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/IMG_2352-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/IMG_2352-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where do you discover&nbsp;animals?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>You may also enjoy these activities with your baby&#8230; <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/babies\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20-Baby-Activities.jpg\" alt=\"20 Baby Activities from The Educators' Spin On it\" class=\"wp-image-21927\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20-Baby-Activities.jpg 650w, https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20-Baby-Activities-600x831.jpg 600w, https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/20-Baby-Activities-217x300.jpg 217w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/baby-time-staying-at-home-is-for-birds\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/1-copy-2.jpg\" alt=\"Staying at Home with a Baby is for the birds. It's not what you think, here's why\" class=\"wp-image-21407\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/1-copy-2.jpg 650w, https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/1-copy-2-600x831.jpg 600w, https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/1-copy-2-217x300.jpg 217w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/baby-time-action-songs-for-babies\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Action-Songs-for-Babies-.jpg\" alt=\"Actions Songs for Babies\" class=\"wp-image-23517\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Action-Songs-for-Babies-.jpg 650w, https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Action-Songs-for-Babies--600x831.jpg 600w, https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Action-Songs-for-Babies--217x300.jpg 217w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Turn everyday moments into adventures with a zoo in my backyard for babies\u2014spot real animals and insects while enjoying simple, sensory-rich nature play. Babies and Toddlers are naturally&nbsp;interested in&nbsp;animals. Many&nbsp;times your family pet&nbsp;ends up being one of your babies&nbsp;first words.&nbsp;Then they begin to discover animal toys, our toy animals currently get lined up one by [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":83254,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"ub_ctt_via":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[474],"tags":[142,84,85,156,18,549,131,675],"class_list":{"0":"post-1233","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gardening","8":"tag-animals","9":"tag-baby","10":"tag-baby-time","11":"tag-kids-in-the-garden","12":"tag-kim","13":"tag-nature","14":"tag-outdoor-fun","15":"tag-zoo","16":"entry"},"aioseo_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/backyard-zoo-with-your-baby.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Kim Vij","author_link":"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/author\/kim\/"},"mv":{"thumbnail_id":83254,"thumbnail_uri":"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/backyard-zoo-with-your-baby-200x300.jpg"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1233","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1233"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1233\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":84392,"href":"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1233\/revisions\/84392"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/83254"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1233"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1233"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1233"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}