Why Do Children Love Dinosaurs?

If there is one thing that children love, it is dinosaurs. Many children build an impressive collection of toys. And, when it comes to dinosaurs, there is a whole new world to discover.

These ancient reptiles come in all varieties, from small, voracious birds of prey to gentle, herbivorous giants.

The era of dinosaurs has a special appeal for people of all ages, but especially for children.

This passion for dinosaurs often stems from movies or books. Their dragon-like appearance catches the attention of the little ones, and even older children are not immune to the excitement of movies such as Jurassic Park.

Although science has dispelled certain myths about dinosaurs, these ancient beasts continue to live their own lives in children’s imaginations.

In this article, we will learn why dinosaurs are so fascinating for children.

Why do children love dinosaurs?

1. They dream of becoming as strong as them

Dinosaurs are known to be powerful, voracious and almost invincible. These are qualities that almost every child would like to possess.

When children begin to discover the world around them,  strength and power are aspects they admire and desire. They look up to creatures who know how to defend themselves, and try to imitate them.

When children play and put themselves in the place of a real dinosaur, they  experiment with these traits, expressing new facets of their personality. 

2. Dinosaurs are fascinated by the mystery of their disappearance

Children’s interest in dinosaurs also has to do with their sudden and mysterious extinction. 

This phenomenon still fascinates people of all ages, and inspires scientific debate. For children, these big questions are fascinating.

This puts dinosaurs in the same category as mysterious creatures. They are like characters from science fiction. They are not completely real, such as a wolf or an elephant, but they are not fantasy either, like a dragon.

Dinosaurs have their very own role in a child’s imagination. Their presence once existed, but they are no longer present.

3. They are proud to be an expert

You’ve probably heard the story from the Natural History Museum in London, which  admitted to mixing the information about one of the exhibits on display – all thanks to a 10-year-old boy.

The child visited the museum with his family, and discovered a mistake in the name of one of the dinosaurs. He told a custodian at the museum about the error, and after checking their sources, the museum acknowledged their error.

Imagine how proud children feel when they are able to impress their parents by licking a long, complicated name of a dinosaur species off. They know every dinosaur by name, and collect books and statuettes.

Young dinosaur fans watch every documentary about the lives of their favorite creatures, with great attention.

Your child’s knowledge will often surprise you. The satisfaction of being an expert encourages children to find out even more about the world of dinosaurs.

4. Dinosaurs are a connection to the past

Dinosaurs represent a distant past. A time before mother, father and grandparents. So long ago that it is very hard to imagine.

Children are curious about the origin of the world they live in.  What was the world like? Who were the first people?

Children who are interested in dinosaurs understand that these beasts belong in a world before their family and their surroundings. It is something positive and stimulating for a young mind.

5. They are not scary

Children’s fascination with dinosaurs is also due to the fact that they no longer exist. These giant lizards ruled the earth long before humans came into being. This makes them fundamentally non-threatening.

The fact that these scary creatures do not share our planet today is very reassuring to children. Children know that these monsters from the past cannot come and attack them, no matter how deadly they were in their time.

Finally, keep in mind that  children have a tendency to go through phases. Just look at their toys from their last birthday that they have already put aside. So, your child’s addiction to everything related to dinosaurs probably does not last.

But,  even if your child’s fascination with dinosaurs is temporary, it can be good entertainment for both of you. 

Learning about dinosaurs is a chance for children to explore the world, feed their creativity, gain new knowledge and start an interest in science.

And who knows – maybe you have a budding paleontologist in the family!