Weird Giraffe Facts (for a 6-year-old)

Giraffes are amazing! Here are some weird and fun facts that are easy to understand.

1. They have super long tongues. A giraffe's tongue can be 18–20 inches long. That's as long as a ruler! They use it to grab leaves from tall trees.
2. Their tongues are dark. The tongue is purple or dark blue to help stop sunburn because they stick it out a lot while they eat.
3. Giraffes sleep very little. They only sleep a few minutes up to a couple of hours each day. Sometimes they nap standing up!
4. They have long necks but only 7 bones. Giraffes have the same number of neck bones as you—7—but theirs are much, much bigger.
5. Each giraffe has a different pattern of spots. No two giraffes have the same spots, kind of like how your fingerprints are special to you.
6. Baby giraffes fall when they're born. A baby giraffe drops about 6 feet to the ground when it's born. It sounds scary, but it's normal and helps the baby start breathing and moving.
7. They make soft sounds. Giraffes are mostly quiet, but they can hum, snort, and even bellow to talk to each other.
8. They can run pretty fast. Giraffes can sprint fast for short times—faster than riding a bike!

Try this little game: Pretend to be a giraffe. Stretch one arm up high like a long neck and use your other hand like a tongue to grab an imaginary leaf. Now stand very still and try a tiny nap—just like a giraffe!