**Note: This page is for educational inspiration and is not officially affiliated with Walk Your Dog Month. Walk Your Dog Month is an annual observance, typically celebrated throughout January. It is believed to have originated in the United States, likely as a health and wellness initiative to encourage dog owners to stay active with their pets during the colder winter months and to highlight the importance of regular exercise for canine health. While there isn't one single founding organization widely credited, the message is promoted by various pet care, animal welfare, and health organisations. For more information on responsible dog ownership and pet health, you can consult veterinary associations or animal welfare charities.
Understanding Walk Your Dog Month in EYFS & KS1
Let's put on our walking shoes (and paws)! š¾š¶āāļø Walk Your Dog Month is an annual observance, typically celebrated throughout January. It's believed to have originated in the United States as a health and wellness initiative, encouraging dog owners to maintain their pets' exercise routines even during the colder winter months. Beyond just physical activity, it highlights the importance of regular walks for a dog's overall well-being, including mental stimulation and socialisation. It's a reminder that our furry friends need consistent care and attention to thrive.
For early years settings, nurseries, preschools, childminders, and Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, this month provides a fantastic and practical theme for exploring pets, animal care, responsibility, physical activity, and understanding the world. It's about introducing children to the concept of responsible pet ownership, understanding the needs of animals, and promoting empathy towards living creatures. This theme offers wonderful planning ideas and inspiration for engaging activities that truly resonate with young minds, making learning about animal welfare and healthy lifestyles both fun and meaningful.
Why Is Teaching About Dog Care & Pets Important for Young Children?
Integrating lessons about dog care and pets into your practice with young children (aged 0-7) helps develop their empathy, responsibility, and understanding of the living world around them.
Empathy and Responsibility: Teaches children about the needs of animals, fostering compassion and understanding that living beings require care and attention.
Understanding Needs: Helps children recognise what dogs (and other pets) need to be healthy and happy (food, water, exercise, shelter, love).
Safety Around Animals: Provides opportunities to discuss safe interactions with animals, both familiar and unfamiliar.
Physical Activity Awareness: Highlights the importance of exercise for both humans and animals, promoting healthy habits.
Communication & Language: Introduces new vocabulary related to animals, care, and actions.
Observation Skills: Encourages children to observe animal behaviours and understand their communication.
Engaging Dog & Pet Activities for Walk Your Dog Month (0-7 Year Olds)
Make Walk Your Dog Month a truly wag-tastic and responsible experience with these planning ideas and activities perfect for EYFS and KS1 children. The focus is on learning about dogs, understanding their needs, and appreciating pets! Many of these early years and year 1 activities can be supported by our dedicated 'Pets' page and broader 'Animals' resources.
Here's some inspiration for celebrating our canine companions and other pets in your setting: (Please use your own discretion and knowledge of your children to ensure appropriateness of each activity and safety concerning any materials given and activity undertaken.)
What Does a Dog Need?: Have a discussion about the essential needs of a dog. Use our 'What Does A Dog Need?' Poster' and 'What Does A Dog Need?' Poster - Colouring' for visual support. Play the 'What Does A Dog Need?' Game' to reinforce learning.
"Feed the Dog" Activities: Engage fine motor skills and early learning with our 'Feed The Dog Pencil Control Mats' and 'Feed The Dog Pencil Control Sheets'. These can be adapted for drawing or loose parts.
Pet Care Role-Play: Set up a 'Veterinary Surgery Role-Play Pack' to encourage imaginative play around caring for animals. Include toy dogs, beds, food bowls, and walking leads.
Dog-Themed Songs & Sounds: Sing songs about dogs or animals. Our 'Bingo Song Words' and 'Bingo Song Words - Colouring' are perfect for this.
All About Pets: Broaden the discussion to include different types of pets. Use our 'Pets Word Mat', and 'Pet Word Cards' for vocabulary. Children can draw or write about their own pets (or an imaginary one) using 'My Pet Can' Drawing/Writing/Mark Making Sheets'.
Pet Puzzles & Games: Reinforce learning with our 'Pets 2-Piece Puzzles', 'Pets 2-Piece Puzzles - Colouring', and 'Pet Descriptions Game'.
Pet-Themed Numeracy: Use 'Pets Number Multimats - Playdough, Whiteboard & Pen Or Loose Parts' for counting and number recognition activities with pet themes.
Animal Alphabet & Phonics: Integrate animal themes into literacy. Use 'Animal Alphabet Horizontal Flashcards/Posters - Upper & Lower Case', 'Animal Alphabet/Initial Sound Puzzles', 'Animal Initial Sound Match Game', 'Animal Alphabet Multimats - Playdough, Whiteboard & Pen Or Loose Parts', and 'Animal Word Slice Puzzles - Phase 2 Sounds'.
Animal Colouring: Provide colouring sheets for dogs and other pets. Our 'Pets Colouring' is great for this. You can also use 'Animals Of The World Mega Colouring Pack' for a wider range of animals.
Fact Finding: For older children, use 'Pets Fact Cards' to learn interesting facts about different pets.
Planning Ideas: If you're developing a broader topic, our 'Planning - Topic Plan Ideas - Animals' and 'Planning - Topic Plan Ideas - Pets' can provide a framework.
Explore More: For an extensive catalogue of resources on these themes, please visit our 'Pets' page and 'Animals' pages!
These activities offer great inspiration for making Walk Your Dog Month a memorable and impactful experience in your early years and Key Stage One setting, fostering responsibility, empathy for animals, physical activity awareness, and understanding of living creatures.
To explore ideas surrounding additional early years events, please visit our 'Special Dates Calendar' page.
Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: āWalk your dog monthā
Free activities for EYFS & KS1:
āPetā and ādogā related activities for EYFS & KS1:
āAnimalā packs that contain activities for learning about ādogsā | EYFS & KS1:
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Disclaimer:
This page is for educational purposes only and is intended to support early years and primary practitioners with ideas and resources related to 'Walk Your Dog Month'. This is an informal observance without one single founding organization widely credited. We do not claim any rights to specific trademarks or official materials associated with this event. For more information on responsible dog ownership and pet health, you can consult reputable veterinary associations or animal welfare charities.
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