Bambi Movie: Educational Activities and Games for 2 to 5 Year Olds

Let's face it, kids love movies, but it's been proven that they should watch no more than 2 hours of TV a day. So why not combine their love of a movie and activities that will help them learn and grow? Following are suggestions for the movie Bambi released in 1942. These activities would also work well for preschool classes and party games for this age group.

Watch the movie - Let your kids watch the show while you prepare the activities for the rest of the day or attend to other responsibilities.

Rhyme Activity - Teach your child this rhyme.

Spring is Coming

Spring is coming! Spring is coming!

How do you think I know?

I see a flower blooming,

I know it must be so.

Spring is coming! Spring is coming!

How do you think I know?

I see a blossom on a tree,

I know it must be so.

Read a Book - There are a lot of incredible books available to go along with the movie Bambi. Pick one you think your child would enjoy and involve them while you are reading. Ask them questions about the pictures and story. Following are a few suggestions of books to read.

• Dear Deer: A Book of Homophones by Gene Barretta
• The Race of Toad and Deer by Pat Mora and Domi
• Rabbit's Gift by George Shannon and Dronzek
• Woodland Creatures (Exploring Play) by Hele Shelbourne

Rabbit Caretaker - Use a box and cut it to look like a rabbit hutch. Put a stuffed rabbit in it and give your child different types of pretend food (if you don't have pretend food cut pictures out of a magazine. Ask your child, "What do rabbits eat?" Have them put food in the cage that a rabbit would eat. Ask your child what other things a rabbit needs.

Spring Time Flowers - Get a flower pot and some flower seeds and have your child help you plant the seeds. Talk about how plants need warm weather, water, soil and sunlight. Help your child care for the seed as it grows.

Make a Rain Stick - In the movie there is a whole musical sequence that shows the animals during a rainstorm. Make a rain stick with your child. They will love decorating and putting it together and then playing with it afterward. You will need aluminum foil, dry rice, paper, tape and a cardboard tube. A paper towel tube is a good size. Twist the aluminum foil so that it forms long coils. Put the aluminum foil in the tube. Cover one end of the tube with paper and tape it shut. Pour in about a half a cup of rice. Cover the other end with paper and tape. Let your child decorate the tube with crayons, markers or paint. When it is done turn the tube slowly and it will sound like rain.