A gift for a child who loves animals - 8 ideas

A book or an animal atlas

An animal atlas with big photos, a guide to dogs and cats, or a story with an animal as the hero. Younger children enjoy lift-the-flap books with large illustrations, older ones encyclopaedias full of facts they can check on a walk.

A bird feeder

Birds can use some help in winter. A feeder on the balcony or in the garden is a gift that works every day: your child tops up the seeds, watches the visitors and learns to recognise the species. Add a small bird guide, and remember that birds should not be fed bread - sunflower seeds and ready-made bird mixes are better.

Adopting an animal from afar

Many zoos and animal shelters run sponsorship programmes: you support the upkeep of a specific animal, and your child gets a certificate or a photo of their animal. The rules differ from place to place, so check what your nearest zoo or shelter offers.

A trip together: a zoo, a riding stable or a shelter

Sometimes the best gift is time together. A zoo ticket, a pony ride or a visit to a shelter with gifts for the animals stays in the memory for a long time. Before visiting a shelter, ask what they need most - often it is food, blankets and toys.

A plush toy that looks like your pet

A plush dog of the same breed as yours or a cat with the same markings is a gift to cuddle at bedtime. For children who dream of their own pet, it is often their first animal to look after.

A gift for your own pet

If you have a dog or a cat at home, your child will love a gift they can give to it themselves: a new toy, a bowl or a bed. Choose it together - it is a good chance to talk about what the animal really needs.

A virtual pet made from a photo of your pet

In YourPet you can turn a photo of your dog, cat or hamster into a little animated pet in the style of an animated film. Your child feeds it, takes it for walks, dresses it in costumes and plays mini-games with it. A pet costs 20 Paws, and a revived pet with four animations - eating, walking, playing and sleeping - costs 35 Paws. One Paw is 1 zł.

The parent creates the pet on their own account, and the child looks after it - the account is created by an adult. You can prepare it in advance and show it to your child on Christmas morning. We explain it step by step in How to turn a photo of your pet into a virtual pet.

A gift that helps a shelter

The Shelter Pass package in YourPet includes two of your own revived pets from a photo or a description, three gallery pets to keep, 5,000 starting coins and costumes. From every purchase, 5 zł goes to the shelter you choose at checkout - from the list or by typing your own. It is a good reason to talk with your child about animals waiting for a home.