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Ocean Animals

  • Fish outline to color in Fish. Look at the fish!
  • Octopus outline to color in Octopus. Look at the octopus!
  • Turtle outline to color in Turtle. Look at the turtle!
  • Whale outline to color in Whale. Look at the whale!
  • Starfish outline to color in Starfish. Look at the starfish!
  • Crab outline to color in Crab. Look at the crab!
kids-education.com - High-Contrast Ocean Animals

Notes for adults

Ages 0–1 · 3 min · Easy

Show your baby six black-and-white ocean animals and talk about them using short phrases.

Learning objectives

  • Look at a picture shown by an adult.
  • Follow a picture with their eyes if interested.
  • Respond to an adult's voice with a look, sound, or movement.

What you need

  • Printed sheet of black-and-white cards
  • Scissors for adult use only, if separating the cards

Safety notes

Supervise your baby at all times. Hold the cards away from your baby's mouth and use scissors away from your baby. Do not leave loose paper with your baby. Stop if your baby shows signs of tiredness.

How to do it

  1. Print the sheet in black and white. Separate the cards if you wish.
  2. Settle your baby comfortably, facing you.
  3. Hold one card about 8 to 12 inches from your baby's face.
  4. Slowly say the words on the card.
  5. Move the card slowly to one side and see if your baby follows it with their eyes.
  6. Show another animal if your baby is still interested.
  7. Stop when your baby looks away or shows signs of tiredness.

Teaching suggestions

  • Pause after speaking to give your baby time to respond.
  • If your baby does not look at the picture, gently bring it into their field of view without insisting.
  • Repeat the animal's name another time, perhaps while looking at a book or chatting.
  • With more than one baby, show the pictures individually and follow each baby's lead.

Variations

  • Make it easier: Show just one card and hold it still for a few moments.
  • Make it more challenging: For an interested older baby, show two cards one at a time and name each animal.
  • Keep exploring: Another time, look for ocean animals in a book and repeat their names.

Talk about it

  • What are you looking at?
  • How does the fish swim?
  • Which animal will we see next?

What to look for

  • Notice whether your baby looks at a picture.
  • Watch to see whether your baby follows the card with their eyes as you move it slowly.
  • Notice whether your baby responds to your voice with sounds, movements, or changes in their gaze.