Breaking news: Kids love animals.

OK, you knew that already. But did you know that October 4 is World Animal Day? Here are five ways you can hang with your favorite child and celebrate their fascination of our four-legged, two-legged, finned and slithering friends this World Animal Day.

1. Visit a zoo or aquarium. We heard it through the apevine (go ahead, roll your eyes), but in a survey of almost 400 "National Geographic Kids" magazine readers, 34 percent say their favorite way to learn about animals is at a zoo or aquarium. So to celebrate World Animal Day, make a special trip there with your niece or nephew. Call ahead to find out when the animals are most active - usually feeding time or early or late in the day - so you don’t see...yawn!...one snoozing animal after another. (Word of caution: This may mean getting out of bed early!) Seek out the zookeepers and encourage your niece or nephew to grill them with questions about the animals, like how long is an elephant’s trunk? Or how do you tell the difference between an alligator and a crocodile? And don’t forget to hoot, snarl, scratch and roar at the different animals. You won’t look super cool, but you’ll get your niece or nephew to LOL (Laugh Out Loud, for you newly digital Aunties). We swear they’re laughing with you, not at you.

Here’s a savvy zoo tip: Make penguins, pandas, tigers, cheetahs, monkeys and polar bears your first stops. In our last survey, NG Kids readers told us those are the must-see zoo animals.

2. Go on a photo safari. All right, Auntie, it’s time to make the kiddos put down their Wii wands and Justin Bieber-playing iPods. (We know it sounds like a task from "Mission Impossible," but trust us: It’ll be worth it.) Now, hand them a camera and go on a photo safari. Kids show their love for animals in a number of ways, but 71 percent of NG Kids readers said taking photos of animals is their favorite way to appreciate animals. Do some research and find out what animals live in your neighborhood or local park. Then, head outside with your niece or nephew and click away!

Not a photo pro? No problem. Check out these tips from National Geographic photographer Darlyne Murawski on how to get great animal photos:

-Learn as much as you can about the animal. Observe it for a while before you take any pictures.

-Get as close to the animal as possible without taking a risk or disturbing the wildlife. Crouch or lie down so that you’re at the animal’s eye level. Be sure to remind children that whether they're in the backyard, on the beach, or in the woods, it's important to help wildlife stay, well, wild. So be an observer - not an intruder.

-Be patient. Don’t try to get an animal to do something it doesn’t want to do. The best shots come when you photograph animals on their terms, rather than your own.

For crafty Aunties: Create an animal scrapbook of all the pictures you took together. Leave blank pages so the two of you can add to it.

3. Get the (wacky) facts. Did you know a swordfish can swim about as fast as a cheetah can run? Or that a dog’s nose print is as unique as a human fingerprint? Show your niece or nephew how exciting animals are by sharing amazing facts like these from the NG Kids book "Weird But True!"

No time to get out and about? Head to the computer. Introduce the child in your life to awesome animals online.
Then, quiz your niece’s or nephew’s noodle with these wacky animal questions. Turn it into a family challenge. Who’s the animal expert in your pack?

4. Pamper their pet. We’re not suggesting you hand-knit Fido a sweater or give him a pet-icure. But you can help the child in your life show his or her pet a little extra TLC this World Animal Day. Let the cat have the run of the house - literally - by building a snazzy kitty condo together, or watch the pooch snooze on a homemade dog pillow you both created. If arts and crafts aren’t your thing, head into the kitchen with your niece or nephew and make a treat that any pet will be sure to drool over.

Just remember that pampering furry friends doesn't have to cost you an arm and a paw. So show your niece or nephew that spoiling pets with loads of hugs, baths, and belly rubs doesn't cost a thing.

5. Make a difference. Let’s do some good, Savvy Auntie. Volunteer with your niece or nephew at a local animal shelter. By walking dogs, cleaning cages, or playing fetch, the child in your life will learn the importance of responsible pet ownership and animal protection. Plus, getting sloppy canine kisses or purr-filled cuddling isn't a bad way to spend an afternoon.

Prefer to help wild animals? Find a cause for you and your niece or nephew to undertake instead. It’s easy. Just think of what interests your niece. Does she love tigers? Help her check out the Big Cats Initiative, a program that helps protect and save lions, tigers, cheetahs, leopards, and jaguars. Nephew can’t get enough of the creepy crawlers? Brainstorm ideas together about how he can help school officials make his schoolyard more wildlife-friendly. For instance, add a log pile for snails and other small creatures, plant native nectar-producing foliage to attract butterflies and hummingbirds, or build a small pond for frogs, birds, and dragonflies. For more ideas, go online to find volunteer opportunities.

So now you can go wild this World Animal Day. And no matter how you and your niece or nephew choose to show your love of animals, you can challenge yourselves to keep the celebration going beyond October 4. Animals everywhere would thank you.  

Published: September 27, 2010