Animals And Their Young
Made by Nienhuis Montessori · shipped by Heutink International (Netherlands) About the maker
Twenty nine wild and domestic animals paired with their young, fifty eight cards with twenty nine controls and title cards. Two words per animal rather than three makes this the set to give first: the pairing is obvious enough for a child to attempt alone, and the pleasure of knowing that a swan's young is a cygnet survives being told once. The three way set with male and female names comes afterwards. Card stock with laminate, for ages 3 to 6.
“Free the child's potential, and you will transform him into the world.”
The Animals and Their Young matching cards address the child's innate drive to classify and name their world during the sensitive period for language.
- Master precise animal vocabulary including specific offspring names
- Develop visual discrimination skills through matching activities
- Build classification abilities by grouping adult-young animal pairs
- Strengthen reading readiness through exposure to printed labels
Read More
These laminated cards present precise vocabulary pairs, 'horse' and 'foal,' 'duck' and 'duckling', that satisfy the child's need for accurate nomenclature. In Montessori biology, we recognize that children between three and six years possess an extraordinary capacity to absorb specialized vocabulary when presented through concrete, visual materials. The matching format of these animal cards allows children to create their own connections between parent and offspring, building mental categories through hands-on manipulation. Each card's clear text label provides the exact terminology that enriches the child's spoken vocabulary while the visual matching component engages their developing powers of discrimination. This material bridges the child's love of animals with their expanding linguistic capabilities, offering real biological relationships rather than fantasy.
How to present it
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Lay out adult animal cards in a column on the left side of the work mat. Place offspring cards randomly to the right.
- 1
Select one adult animal card and name it clearly: 'This is a cow'
Use slow, precise pronunciation to model correct vocabulary - 2
Search through offspring cards to find the match: 'I'm looking for the calf'
Allow the child time to scan visually before offering help - 3
Place the matched pair side by side and read both labels aloud
Touch under each word as you read to connect spoken and written language - 4
Continue matching all pairs, then review by naming each complete set
Encourage the child to repeat the animal names for practice
Every Child Is a Little Creator
Heritage
Since 1929
In classrooms
Around the world
European brands
Nienhuis, GAM, Educo
AMI approved
To the association standard
Animals And Their Young
