Seal Fun for Kids

Seals are adorable, whiskery animals that love to swim in the ocean and relax on sandy beaches. These playful marine mammals are great swimmers and use their strong flippers to glide through the water. Seals are often seen popping their heads up to look around, and they can make lots of funny sounds. Kids love seals because they are cute, smart, and fun to watch!

Watch a Seal in Action!

Watch this fun video of a seal swimming, splashing, and playing. Seals are amazing animals that are full of energy!

What is a Seal?

A seal is a marine mammal that spends time both in the water and on land. They are part of a group called pinnipeds, which means “flipper-footed.”

• Seals have sleek, smooth bodies that help them swim fast
• They use their front flippers to steer and back flippers to move
• Seals can hold their breath underwater for a long time
• They have whiskers to help them find food in dark water

Where do Seals live?

Seals live in oceans all over the world, from cold icy places to warm coastlines. Some even live near rocky islands or sandy shores.

• Most seals live in the Arctic or Antarctic
• Some live near North America, Europe, and Asia
• They come onto beaches or ice to rest, have babies, and stay safe from predators

What do Seals eat?

Seals are great hunters and love to eat seafood. They catch their food underwater using their sharp teeth.

• Seals eat fish like herring and cod
• They also eat squid and shrimp
• Some seals even eat penguins and other smaller sea animals

How big is a Seal?

Seals come in different sizes depending on the kind. Some are as big as a grown-up, while others are much smaller.

• Most seals are about 4 to 6 feet long (1.2 to 1.8 meters)
• They weigh between 200 to 600 pounds (90 to 270 kilograms)
• That’s as heavy as 3 to 6 large dogs!

What sound do Seals make?

Seals make all kinds of fun noises! They bark, growl, grunt, and even make silly honking sounds. Baby seals cry out to find their moms.

Cool Seal facts

Seals are full of surprises. Here are some fun and interesting things to know about them:

• Some seals can dive over 1,000 feet (300 meters) underwater
• Seals can sleep underwater and hold their breath at the same time
• They have a thick layer of blubber to keep them warm
• Seals can swim up to 20 miles per hour (32 kilometers per hour)
• Baby seals are called pups
• Some seals can live up to 30 years
• They can use their whiskers to sense fish swimming by
• Some seals clap and wave their flippers

Printables and coloring fun

Have fun learning about seals with these great printable and online activities!

• Download Seal Coloring Page (PDF)

Seals in the eco-system

Seals are an important part of ocean life. They help keep the food chain balanced and are a favorite meal for animals like sharks and polar bears.

• Seals eat fish and help control fish populations
• They are food for larger predators like orcas and polar bears
• Some seal species are endangered because of pollution and climate change
• There are over 30 types of seals in the world

Ask a grown-up to help you learn more

Want to discover even more about seals? Here are some great websites to explore with an adult.

• National Geographic – Seal Facts
• Britannica – Seal
• Seals | Species | WWF

Fun questions about Seals

Ways to donate and support Seals

Seals need our help to stay safe and healthy. People can protect seals by keeping the oceans clean, learning about marine animals, and supporting animal rescue groups.

Adopt a Harbor Seal | Symbolic Adoptions from WWF