Know Your Wild Animals Coloring Page

Six wild animals fill the page, each drawn large in its own box with its name printed underneath in capitals: giraffe, monkey, lion, tiger, elephant and zebra. Your child names each animal, talks about it for a moment, then colors it its real colors.

Between about three and five, children are learning words quickly, and they learn them best when they talk about the thing with an adult. Naming an animal and pointing out what makes it different, like the giraffe's long neck, the elephant's trunk or the lion's mane, builds vocabulary and the habit of looking closely. Seeing the printed name under each picture also shows that words stand for things, long before your child can read them.

Compare the tiger and the zebra. Both have stripes, so ask your child what color each one's stripes and fur should be before they start coloring.