Dinosaur Day

Children love dinosaurs and it’s not just a “boy” thing. Both girls and boys are fascinated by these animals of long-ago. Children love acting like dinosaurs—roaring and stomping. They enjoy dinosaur stories, want to watch dinosaur movies and play dinosaur games. They dress as dinosaurs and decorate their bedrooms with dinosaurs.

Dinosaurs may be enormous, dangerous, and powerful, but this only adds to their appeal.  While a pacing tiger in a zoo can be frightening to a child, a roaring, hungry Tyrannosaurus Rex (T-Rex) creates no fear. Instead, dinosaurs are loved.  Dinosaurs can’t hurt them. Children know they are safe because dinosaurs are extinct. Very young children may say, “They aren’t real.” In time and maturity, extinction can be explained.

Many children’s books portray dinosaurs as mean, disobedient, compulsive, and getting what they want. Children enjoy seeing the dinosaur getting away with the behaviors and actions that are unacceptable for them. They can inwardly cheer for the defiant dinosaur. The underdog (dinosaur) wins. To the child, he/she wins. And many parents don’t view this as teaching and reinforcing inappropriateness to children. They would rather have their children reading about the dinosaur’s misbehavior than having their children continually acting defiantly, angry and throwing tantrums. The dinosaur’s behavior opens the door for conversation.

I love Mercer Mayer books (Little Critter books) so I decided to read his dinosaur book, TOO MANY DINOSAURS. A desperate boy buys a horn to call his run-away baby triceratops and ends up calling Mama triceratops and more. The children loved the twist at the end. We then decided to create our own dinosaur horns. If you make one, be careful what you call.

 

Dinosaur activities are included on my dinosaur activity page. //hkdening.com/dinosaur-activit…nd-picture-books/

Check out the list of dinosaur books on the activity page.

Look for more ideas on my Pinterest page.

www.pinterest.com/hkdening/dinosaurs-dinosaurs-dinosaurs/

 

Enjoy your little dinosaur!

Helen