When you see children playing around with toy dinosaurs, you might think they’re just having fun - but they’re actually soaking up lots of interesting facts too. And you can help expand this knowledge with a few extra activities and a bit of research if you have the time. While walking with dinosaurs live is one of the coolest ways for children to get close to life-like prehistoric beasts, studying dinosaurs is also fascinating. Here’s what your little ones could be learning as they stage battles with their Jurassic models.

1. Humans Didn’t Always Rule the World

It’s hard to imagine a world where dinosaurs as big as double decker busses roamed freely, with no zoos and no human limitations. Humans couldn’t even hunt dinosaurs for meat or disrupt their habitats. These days, we only get to see really awesome animals in safari parks and zoos, but these formidable creatures used to dominate the planet. Many people think human beings appeared on the planet soon after the dinosaurs died out. But it actually took 65 million years. That’s a long, long time.

1. A Mass Extinction Happened

Learning about dinosaur fossils helps children to understand how extinction happens over time. It also gives them an insight into mass extinction. The most common theory around the death of dinosaurs is that a large asteroid struck Chicxulub in Mexico, forming a 240-kilometre wide crater. This resulted in debris blocking out the sun, killing plants and plant eaters and eventually wiping out meat-eaters. The thought really is quite shocking but it can be fascinating to study.

If you're wondering where to see dinosaurs in London including excavated skeleton bones, then don’t miss the Natural History Museum. Dinosaur World Live, a popular theatre show touring the UK, also builds on what your children already know and offers plenty of interactive entertainment for youngsters.

1. The World Looked Different

Believe it or not, there have not always been seven continents. In fact, when dinosaurs were alive, all continents were part of a single landmass called Pangaea. We know this because fossils of dinosaurs that could not swim have been found in continents now separated by sea. This means that many years ago, they wouldn’t have had to navigate water in order to travel from place to place. The climate was also very different from now. It was relatively hot and dry and much of the land was covered with large deserts. Unlike today, there were no polar ice caps.

1. There Were Carnivores, Herbivores and Omnivores

With its sharp teeth, piercing eyes, huge claws and formidable roar, Tyrannosaurus-Rex might be the first dinosaur that comes to mind. This dino was very much a meat eater but many other dinosaur types also walked Earth including herbivores (plant eaters) and omnivores (meat and plant eaters). Some of the most commonly known plant eaters are Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Brachiosaurus, Diplodocus and Ankylosaurus. Omnivores included Oviraptor, Yunnanosaurus and more. If some of these dinosaur names are new to you, why not find out more about them?

If you’re looking for things to do in London with family and have children that are dinosaur crazy, then Dinosaur World Live could be the right choice for you. Book your tickets today and come face-to-face with your favourite prehistoric creatures. There’s even a meet and greet afterwards.