Dinosaurs are typically thought of as a subject for kids. Not only do discussions about dinosaurs help kids to understand that our world was once a very different place, they can also be a vehicle for introducing ideas like evolution, geology and biology. But the fascination over these prehistoric beasts never really leaves us, which is why adults get as excited by new discoveries and museum visits as their children do. Here, we explore why dinosaurs are not just for kids.

The mysterious

As children, we like the drama of dinosaurs. The huge teeth and voracious appetites of the theropods, the gigantic size of the sauropods, and the idle wondering whether we could outrun this or that predator. As adults, it becomes more about the mystery. Faced with the enormous femur of a Brachiosaurus or the skull of a T. Rex, we’re reminded how utterly unlike any modern creature dinosaurs really were. 

Myriad questions are raised: What colour were they? How did they behave? How did they raise their young? What (if anything) frightened them? These questions are unlikely to ever be answered with certainty, which allows us to exercise our imaginations a little. It might suit one person to believe that Stegosaurus’ plates were for body temperature regulation, while another might hold that they were for attracting a mate. The mystery is something that keeps us engaged.

Our own fragility

Learning about dinosaurs enables us to consider Earth’s history, both in terms of life and of the climate. Especially now, with climate change threatening human environments and ways of life, the catastrophic consequences of climate change in the Mesozoic Era hold a kind of grim significance. We’re reminded of the fragility of our own existence - if creatures so strong and ferocious could be wiped out with a single stroke, what does that mean for us? 

Filling in our backstory

A fossilised dinosaur bone represents a connection to the past. Not only does this confer a sense of belonging on our planet, it also gives us a sense of our specific place within Earth’s history. As adults, our interest in dinosaurs is partly about filling in our own backstory - how did we get from tiny mammals scurrying around under dinosaurs’ feet to here? Dinosaurs give us a more emotional way of connecting to the ancient past than, say, an ammonite might, because we can more readily imagine their behaviours based on our knowledge of modern animals. This helps us to make sense of our own story in the context of Earth’s 4.6 billion-year timeline.

Power

In more recent decades, questions have been raised about whether dinosaurs could be brought back from extinction. While our imaginations enable us to flesh out the bones dug from the ground, there’s something more wistful about actually bringing an extinct creature back to life. It would open the door to endless possibilities, paving the way to possibly undoing some of humanity’s wrongs - the hunting of the Caspian tiger to extinction, for example, or the demise of the golden toad due to our impact on the climate. 

Bringing dinosaurs to life on the stage

If you’re an adult who is fascinated with dinosaurs, why not book a family fun day out to immerse yourself in their world? The Dinosaur World Live theatre production uses stunning puppetry to tell the story of a range of dinosaurs, from the tiny Microraptor to the enormous Giraffatitan. It’s a great family day out for dino-mad adults and kids, and is currently touring the UK. Search ‘family show near me’ and book today.