Young therianthropes explore identity through quadrobics in Finland

Masha, Taimi, and Feir are 11-year-old therianthropes who identify with animals and engage in “quadrobics,” moving similarly to their chosen animals. Their parents encourage this creative and physical activity, suggesting it helps children make friends. Psychologist Nina Pyykkönen views these therian play activities as beneficial for children, allowing them to extend their play age and explore their identities through animals.

Masha and Taimi have only known each other for a few months but have quickly developed a close friendship. They don masks and tails as they practice their moves in a courtyard, calling their four-limbed antics “quadrobics.” Both Masha and Taimi report a strong connection to animals, identifying as therians—humans who feel they embody animal spirits.

Masha’s therian identity is a border collie named Max, while she draws inspiration from young therian influencers on platforms like TikTok. Initially, Masha’s mother was apprehensive about her daughter’s interest in therian play but has since become more accepting, reflecting on her own childhood beliefs.

Feir, another therianthrope, engages in playful mimicry of cats and other animals, using her creativity to design and sell animal masks online. She enjoys embodying her animal roles at home and expresses that therian identity can help children find a sense of belonging.

Pyykkönen notes that therian play can be a healthy form of expression for children, facilitating a sense of community while allowing for physical activity and creativity. Importantly, she emphasizes that concerns about therians arise only when a child struggles to differentiate between animal and human realities, which is not the case for Masha, Taimi, and Feir, who fluidly navigate both spaces.