Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds

Playful Learning Ideas for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Setting Up the Pet Theme in the Toddler and Preschool Classroom

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Inside: There are so many fun activities that can go with the pet theme! We had small kennels and stuffed animal pets, along with medical kits and notepaper on clipboards. But the highlight was when we had real dogs visit our veterinarian center!

One of the questions we ask our families on the first day of school is if their families have animals, and if so, what kind?

 

Children love to talk about their pets just as they love to talk about their families.

 

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This is why the pet theme is so meaningful to them. They can relate it to one of their pets, or perhaps a relative or family friend’s pet.

 

We set up our classroom dramatic play area as a veterinarian office, complete with a sign and some notepaper. (Scroll down to find a link that you can download these printables!)

 

Lots of hands-on learning while learning about how to take care of the animals we love.

Setting Up the Pet Theme in the Toddler and Preschool Classroom

Setting Up the Pet Theme in the Toddler and Preschool Classroom

Get a tour of our classroom set up here:


Our dramatic play area was set up as a veterinarian office. We had a (very old-school) phone and a keyboard, along with clipboards and pencils.

Ready to take new customers!

Setting Up the Pet Theme in the Toddler and Preschool Classroom

Setting Up the Pet Theme in the Toddler and Preschool Classroom

We pulled out our pet vet center materials.

Setting Up the Pet Theme in the Toddler and Preschool Classroom

The children put the stuffed animal pets into the little pet carriers and brought them to the clinic.

Setting Up the Pet Theme in the Toddler and Preschool Classroom

AND, we had a REAL dog visit the clinic!

My co-teacher’s sweet dog, Rhodi, joined us for the day.

Setting Up the Pet Theme in the Toddler and Preschool Classroom

Notes were taken about Rhodi.

Setting Up the Pet Theme in the Toddler and Preschool Classroom

And Rhodi was updated on his shots.

Setting Up the Pet Theme in the Toddler and Preschool Classroom

My sweet dog, Louis, visited, too!

We talked about what Louis eats, and that his favorite activity is going on walks on our nearby trails.

He spent outdoor time with us.

Setting Up the Pet Theme in the Toddler and Preschool Classroom

We used our train table for some small world veterinarian play, along with some pet animal sorting.

Setting Up the Pet Theme in the Toddler and Preschool Classroom

On our light table, we matched pet animals to their x-rays.

Setting Up the Pet Theme in the Toddler and Preschool Classroom

We strengthened our scissor skills by cutting cat and dog’s hair.

(We got this idea from Lalymom’s activity.)

Setting Up the Pet Theme in the Toddler and Preschool Classroom

We added pet cookie cutters and stamps to our play dough table.

Setting Up the Pet Theme in the Toddler and Preschool Classroom

And we washed pets in our sensory bin, similar to when we washed farm animals.

Setting Up the Pet Theme in the Toddler and Preschool Classroom

Don’t forget to grab your free printables!

free veterinary dramatic play printables


Setting Up the Pet Theme in the Toddler and Preschool Classroom

 

More themes for the toddler and preschool classroom:

Flower Market Dramatic Play for Toddlers and Preschoolers

 

Setting Up the Toddler and Preschool Classroom for the Bug Theme

 

Need some more resources for your pet theme?

preschool pets lesson plans for teachers and homeschoolers

Click here for more information: Preschool Pets Lesson Plans

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