Whether it’s playing with model dinosaurs, watching dino-themed movies or reading books based on prehistoric adventures, it’s true that kids love dinosaurs. But where does this innate fascination come from? Let’s take a closer look. 

Sense of Wonder and Awe 

Dinosaurs lived millions of years ago when Earth was a very different place. The idea of such huge, formidable and powerful creatures existing where we do now sparks a sense of wonder and excitement. Many fossils can still be located in places such as the Jurassic Coast in Dorset. This helps children to see that these were real creatures with homes and families, and makes the whole idea of these ‘terrible lizards’ even more wonderful - if not slightly baffling at the same time. 

A World of Mysteries 

Children are naturally drawn to things they don’t understand, with dinosaurs creating the perfect blend of mystery and reality. Research is taking place all the time, but even palaeontologists are still somewhat unsure about what dinosaurs looked like. While many had feathers and some had scales, the colour of dinosaurs is still something of a mystery. It’s thought herbivores were camouflaged to suit their environment while birds might have been brightly coloured to attract mates. Even much-loved dinosaurs such as the Triceratops could have had coloured horns whereas the T-Rex is believed to have been hues of black, brown and grey rather than simply green. 

Imagination and Creativity

Because so little is known about dinosaurs, the topic allows children to exercise some imaginations and creativity when thinking about them. And thanks to the books, films and TV shows that feature dinosaurs, their imagination is fuelled with all sorts of possibilities. A walking with dinosaurs theatre show is another way to fire up your child’s creativity. With shows like Dinosaur World Live,  they can learn facts and discover performance and artistic crafts at the same time. 

Education and Learning 

There’s plenty of child-friendly information available in schools, libraries, museums and other venues, enabling children to absorb lots of interesting facts about dinosaurs. They can also hop online and do all the research they need. Such accessibility to dino information makes them fascinating to study.

Collecting and Categorising 

Children love collecting and categorising things as it helps them to make sense of the world. Dinosaurs have complicated names and can be divided into various dinosaur types including herbivores, carnivores and omnivores. Being able to memorise facts and show off their knowledge can be empowering for children, helping them to feel a sense of pride and intelligence. It also gives them unique information to share with both adults, their teachers and other children. 

Family theatre near me doesn’t get much better than Dinosaur World Live, so book your tickets today and enjoy a roarsome dinosaur adventure live. The show is currently touring the UK, so find your nearest production and discover some of the most mesmerising beasts to have walked the planet. This show is suitable for children aged three and above, being just 50 minutes long with no interval.